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Old 07-13-2017, 02:34 PM   #28 (permalink)
redpoint5
Human Environmentalist
 
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
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Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - CBR600 - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - Dodge/Cummins - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)

Model Y - '24 Tesla Y LR AWD

Pacifica Hybrid - '21 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
90 day: 43.3 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRMichler View Post
The energy to accelerate from zero to a speed (or decelerate to zero from a speed) is 1/2 X mass X speed^2. ...

Accelerating from 10 to 20 takes three times as much energy as accelerating from 0 to 10.
I have no problem understanding the math, but rather the paradox that reality shows us.

A rocket in space with a constant weight and thrust will accelerate at a linear rate. Somehow it gains kinetic energy exponentially, but expends energy linearly.

From experience, I can tell you it doesn't take 3x as long to accelerate from 10-20 MPH as it does from 0-10 MPH. This suggests it doesn't take 3x the energy.

Quote:
Originally Posted by freebeard View Post
I hit him square, so the hood was damaged but not the headlights. He pulled over but when I asked about his insurance he remembered he had somewhere to be.
Perhaps there is a correlation between people who don't plan ahead when approaching red lights, and people who don't plan ahead to get insurance.

It's too bad you didn't have a cattle guard on that Beetle. Maybe he would have learned the lesson then.
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