If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)

Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

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

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,374 ✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2004

Posts: 2245

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

0

Comments

#2 18-03-2006 11:09PM

dr zoidberg

Closed Accounts Posts: 286 ✭✭

Join Date: November 2005

Posts: 283

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.

0
#3 18-03-2006 11:38PM

Civilian_Target

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,618 ✭✭✭

Join Date: July 2000

Posts: 5486

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.

0
#4 19-03-2006 09:31AM

Squirrel

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,374 ✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2004

Posts: 2245

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

0