08/09/2025, 00:43 Vehicle dynamics questions
Numerical / Application (6–8 marks)
6. A car has mass 1400 kg, Crr = 0.015, Cd = 0.32, frontal area A = 2.1 m2 , air
density ρ = 1.2 kg/m3 , drivetrain efficiency η = 0.88. Calculate:
(a) traction power at wheels and engine power required at v = 25 m/s on level road
(steady speed).
(b) the extra engine power needed if the car accelerates at 1 m/s2 at the same speed.
(Show steps.)
7. A 3000 kg truck climbs a 6% grade at v = 10 m/s. Given Crr = 0.02, Cd A = 1.8 m2
(so use Cd A directly), and η
= 0.85: compute traction power at wheels and engine
power. Explain which term (rolling/gradient/aero) is dominant and why.
Higher-order / Conceptual (10 marks)
8. (a) Show analytically how the aerodynamic power term scales with v 3 and explain the
practical implications for vehicle design and fuel economy.
(b) Discuss how a speed-dependent rolling resistance Crr (v) (instead of constant Crr )
would change the traction power expression and the typical speeds where this
matters.
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provide full worked solutions for Q6–Q7 now, or
convert these into a printable exam paper (with instructions and marks), or
make multiple-choice variants of the short questions?
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08/09/2025, 00:43 Vehicle dynamics questions
6, 7 solution
Thought for 29s
Great — here are full worked solutions for Q6 and Q7, with step-by-step calculations and
short explanations.
Useful constant
g = 9.81 m/s2 .
Air density used: ρ = 1.2 kg/m3 .
Q6 (Numerical / Application)
Given:
m = 1400 kg, Crr = 0.015, Cd = 0.32, A = 2.1 m2 , ρ = 1.2 kg/m3 , η = 0.88, v =
25 m/s.
(a) Traction power at wheels and engine power (steady speed on level road)
1. Rolling resistance force
Froll = Crr mg = 0.015 × 1400 × 9.81 = 206.01 N.
2. Rolling power (force × speed)
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08/09/2025, 00:43 Vehicle dynamics questions
Proll = Froll v = 206.01 × 25 = 5,150.25 W (≈ 5.15 kW).
3. Aerodynamic drag force (instantaneous)
Fdrag = 12 ρCd Av 2 = 0.5 × 1.2 × 0.32 × 2.1 × (252 ).
Compute intermediate: 0.5 × 1.2 = 0.6; 0.6 × 0.32 = 0.192; 0.192 × 2.1 = 0.4032.
Then Fdrag = 0.4032 × 625 = 252.0 N.
4. Aerodynamic power
Paero = Fdrag v = 252.0 × 25 = 6,300 W (≈ 6.30 kW).
(Equivalently Paero = 12 ρCd Av 3 = 0.4032 × 253 = 6,300 W.)
5. Total traction power at wheels
Pw = Proll + Paero = 5,150.25 + 6,300 = 11,450.25 W ≈ 11.45 kW.
6. Engine power required (accounting for drivetrain efficiency η )
Pw 11,450.25
Pe = = ≈ 13,011.65 W ≈ 13.01 kW.
η 0.88
Answers (part a):
Pw ≈ 11.45 kW.
Pe ≈ 13.01 kW.
(b) Extra engine power if accelerating at a = 1 m/s2 at same speed
1. Power required for acceleration (rate of change of kinetic energy):
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08/09/2025, 00:43 Vehicle dynamics questions
Pacc = mav = 1400 × 1 × 25 = 35,000 W ( = 35.00 kW ).
2. New traction power at wheels (drive + acceleration):
Pw,new = Pw + Pacc = 11,450.25 + 35,000 = 46,450.25 W.
3. New engine power required:
Pw,new 46,450.25
Pe,new = = ≈ 52,784.38 W ≈ 52.78 kW.
η 0.88
4. Extra engine power needed (difference):
ΔPe = Pe,new − Pe ≈ 52,784.38 − 13,011.65 ≈ 39,772.73 W ≈ 39.77 kW.
Answers (part b):
Extra engine power required ≈ 39.77 kW (so total engine power needed while
accelerating ≈ 52.78 kW).
Comment: the acceleration power (35 kW) is the dominant term — accelerating a 1400 kg
car at 1 m/s² at 25 m/s requires a huge instantaneous power compared to resistive terms.
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