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Old 11-04-2012, 09:24 AM   #20 (permalink)
wungun
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: muskoka
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Speedy Gonzales - '11 Ford Fiesta SES
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wobombat View Post
Wow, I knew that air resistance grew exponentially, but I didn't realize that a difference in 10 mph could make such a difference.

I wonder: What if trees were planted along all the highways? Once the trees grow, wouldn't that dramatically reduce wind resistance?

Although that might also reduce the benefits of a tailwind.
Exponentially means just that...
And easy way to look at it is, to double your speed requires 4times the power.
So if your increasing your speed from 10mph to 20mph, it'll still require 4 times the power...except at those speeds, you might only be using 3hp to maintain 10mph (or 12hp for 20mph.)
But if you're doing 50mph, and you want to do 100mph, where it might be 50hp to do 50, you'll need 200hp to do 100mph...and exponential jump!

Someone correct me if I'm wrong....
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