Dimensional analysis - distance and speed
Step 1: A 240 horsepower car beginning at a stop goes 1/10 of a mile. At optimum performance, what is the maximum speed in miles per hour the car can reach? Feet per minute?
Step 2: How many feet have been traveled in a 240 horsepower car when the speed reaches 35 MPH at optimum performance? what fraction of a mile is that distance?
https://brainmass.com/math/complex-analysis/14810
Solution Preview
step 1)
1 HP = 746 Watts = 746 J/sec
That is, the car can do a maximum work of 240*746 Joules/sec
= 179040 Newton meter/second ----(1)
It travels a distance of 1/10 mile = 1.6*1/10Km = 0.16Km = 160meters say in t seconds
We know that,
Power = work done/time
Also, work done can be written as the change in kinetic energy.
That is work = (1/2)m(vf^2 - vi^2)
where, vf = final velocity = v and vi = 0 = initial velocity
Hence, power = (1/2)m v^2/time ....(1)
but, time = distance/velocity = d/v
==> power = (1/2)m v^3/distance ...(2)
or, v^3 = 2* power * distance/m
or v = cube root(2*power*distance ...
Solution Summary
This uses optimum performance of a car at 240 horsepower to relate distance and speed.