Max g

[V8HSV]

With some cars talking of 3g lateral acelearation (cornering) it is worth noting you are not going to pull more than 1g on acceleration, below for the techies:



F = ma Force = mass * acceleration
F = Friction a = gravity
Uk = Friction/Fnormal Uk = kinetic coefficient of friction
Uk = ma/mg Fnormal = mg = weight of the object
Uk = a/g Masses cancel out
amax = Uk * g Multiply both sides by g

amax = Uk * g





>> Edited by V8HSV on Friday 5th May 13:58

[moosepig]

This is true when no aerodynamic downforce effects are considered. For example, the theoretical 0-100mph time for any object at 1g is about 4.5 seconds, yet an F1 car can do it in as much as a second under this time, because as it speeds up it can transfer more force directly to the road. The maximum acceleration of the car is therefore 1g PLUS downforce.

Downforce is the only way you can get lateral cornering forces greater than 1g, for precisely the same reasons.

Hope that helps

[V8HSV]

Thats started a can of worms at work, argument is that extra downforce increases weight only on aceleration, so 1g still the theoretical maximum, all about friction or viscous friction, well he is a dragster fanatic!

[yorkkie]

surely downforce is a function of velocity not acceleration

>> Edited by yorkkie on Friday 5th May 18:07

[moosepig]

If he's a dragster fanatic, how does he explain 0-100mph times of 1 to 2 seconds in drag racing, when the 0-100mph time of an object accelerating at 1g is 4.5 seconds?

[Dan_S V8]

Indeed, I watched a drag racing program that said they pulled 5g when accelerating down the strip. The top fuel drag cars do what, ~4secs ET at >300mph? Gonna take more than 1G that's for sure!

[stevieturbo]

Aside from crashing, I think top level drag racing pulls some of the highest acceleration g-forces around.