How to calculate the speed of your car?

[dustint]

Well I read the previous post about finding the actual speed of your car, and this a cool thing to know. But I am slowly rebuilding/upgrading my car from stock, and think it would ba a really great judgement of what I am doing by measuring the increase in top speed of the car.

So how to do it? I mark out x amount of feet on clean/flat pavement. I get the car far enough away to hit top speed before crossing the line. Once crossed I have my clocker start the stop-watch, and stop the time once I go my distance. Then apply the formula I forgot in High School and wallla, mph for my car.
If anyone has done this, and can fill in my blanks in the equation, Id appreciate it.
Its easy to feel and see changes in handling of a car, but actual top speed based on battery, engine, wheels, springs, and cleanliness would be something I could not argue.

Dustin
Atlanta GA

[mavrick0611]

OK I think I know this one.
((3600/t)*d)/5280
t = time it took your vehicle to go from point a to point b
d = distance from point a to point b in your case 10 feet.
3600/t = the number of times the distance will accure in a hour,
*d to get the total distance the car will travle in a hour, feet per hour,
and divide by 5280 to get mph.
I hope I've helped

[racerman333]

ok i know. I did this for a physics experiment once. You need a stop watch and then measure out about 100 or 150 feet, just make sure you know exactly how far it is. Then use the stopwatch to time how long it takes to get from the start to the finish. Take that number. Then go velocity=d(constant)/time. This is in feet/second. The times that number by 60 to get feet/minute. Times it again by 60 to get feet/hour. Then you divide this answer by 5280 (the # of feet in a mile). And there you have your speed in MPH. When i did it i got 19.99 MPH for 100ft with a P2k in my T3.

[racerman333]

also once i got the answers i did other simple experiments like the acceleration. The i graphed acceleration vs. time and also velocity. You can also do things like set up a jump at a given angle and calculate the maximum height using that equation (forgot it already). Thank goodness for RC and this experiment. I went from a C to and A in Physics with this extra credit report.

[combones]

OK braniacs, what's the difference between an oral and a rear end thermometer?
http://www.plauder-smilies.com/sad/confused5.gif

[ 07-19-2001: Message edited by: combones ]

[Obi112]

Oral means through the mouth
**** is through the rear

No jokes please, just answering somebody;s question.

[smeg]

OK work this out.

If you are driving your RC car at night at the speed of light, what happens when you turn the headlights on.

Suffer in ya jocks

[Obi112]

Smeg... what headlights?

[smeg]

Obi112

It is a hypathetical question

[Obi112]

Yeah, I know, but it doesn't even make sense. A good hypothetical question is logical (what came first, the chicken or the egg).

You should explain your question a little more. Does the RC car have headlights? If that's what you meant, then it'd be a cool question. I think you'd just see a streak of light.

[bubblejunky]

Obi! No silly, the differnece is the taste!!
:eek:
Smeg! You would hear a sonic boom!!

[ 07-20-2001: Message edited by: dcommerce ]