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Any physicists want to help us?

Squirrel · 2006-03-18 23:01:47

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054904740 Anyone know the reason that a dirty car would have better fuel consumption? I would've thought wind resistance, therefore drag, therefore power needed would be more

18-03-2006 11:01pm

#1

Squirrel

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http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054904740

Anyone know the reason that a dirty car would have better fuel consumption? I would've thought wind resistance, therefore drag, therefore power needed would be more

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Comments

#2 18-03-2006 11:09pm

dr zoidberg

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Interesting - I'm hardly a physicist but I would hazard a guess that it is something to do with the pockets of air an uneven surface creates, which then changes the aerodynamic profile (or something). Like a golf ball with its dimples which make it fly straighter and further.

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#3 18-03-2006 11:38pm

Civilian_Target

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Its simple enough, like Zoidberg said, it basicly gives the car a better air-flow profile, which is aquired by natural driving as opposed to being built into the car, presumably that makes it more suitable for the environment it drives in and the way you drive it. Also, the dirt should provide extra insulation, which will keep the cabin slightly warmer, gotta be a bonus in Ireland.
At the end of the day though, I can't imagine either difference being any way significant, I'd even question whether it would outweigh the fact that you're driving round all that extra weight.

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#4 19-03-2006 9:31am

Squirrel

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Cheers lads. Interesting, though I can't see much real world advantage

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