Velocity

[Turfzilla]

I don't understand all the vectors and everything of physics but. If there are 80 MPH winds outside blowing from W to E, and I am driving at 80 MPH from E to W? What is the terminal Velocity. Would the force of the wind be 160 MPH? Or are there other vectors factored into it. By the way, has anyone read the book "The History of Pi"?

 

[Bling]

The term "Terminal Velocity" refers to objects falling through the atmosphere, not racing along the ground.

 

[Pulsar]

I don't understand all the vectors and everything of physics but. If there are 80 MPH winds outside blowing from W to E, and I am driving at 80 MPH from E to W? What is the terminal Velocity. Would the force of the wind be 160 MPH? Or are there other vectors factored into it. By the way, has anyone read the book "The History of Pi"?

Dear lord, where to start.

IF you are driving at 80 MPH and there is an 80 MPH headwind, then the APPARENT wind measured from the reference point of the car will be 160MPH.

Terminal velocity is the point at which the force of the wind on an object is equal and oppposite to the downward force (gravity) and an object stops accelerating downward.

The FORCE of the wind is proportional to the square of it's velocity.

 

[jagec]

If you are driving at 80MPH with an 80MPH headwind, you have more greater problems then which vectors factor into it.

But yeah, "terminal velocity" has nothing to do with it.

 

[Spencer278]

I think he is asking about the plane type problems where the speed is given with reference stationary air and you need to calculate the velocity with reference to ground.

 

[jagec]

That's just geometry....get the vector showing the train's velocity with respect to the air, and the vector showing the air's velocity with respect to ground, and add 'em.

 

[AsiLuc]

Shouldn't we add speeds using relativity?

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: jagec
If you are driving at 80MPH with an 80MPH headwind, you have more greater problems then which vectors factor into it.

But yeah, "terminal velocity" has nothing to do with it.

Sure it does. You can have a drag limited speed where the drag due to the air is equal to the power put out by the engine. Not every car bounces off the redline at its maximum speed...