Understanding Aerodynamic Drag and Resistance — Lesson 2

This lesson covers the concepts of aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance, and uphill resistance in vehicles. It explains how these forces affect the movement of a vehicle and the power required to overcome them. The lesson provides examples and calculations for different types of vehicles, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and cars, at various speeds and gradients. It also discusses the impact of factors such as tire material, tire structure, tire temperature, tire inflation pressure, thread geometry, road roughness, and road material on rolling resistance. The lesson concludes with a discussion on the power and torque requirements for climbing at different slopes.

Video Highlights

00:18 - Introduction
02:00 - Detailed examples of aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance, and uphill resistance for different types of vehicles
07:56 - Impact of velocity on aerodynamic drag and power requirement
10:09 - Rolling resistance and its impact on different types of vehicles
16:55 - Calculation of the gradient resistance for different types of vehicles at different gradients
19:09 - Calculation of the power required for different types of vehicles to climb at different gradients

Key Takeaways

- Aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance are two major forces that a vehicle needs to overcome while moving. The power required to overcome these forces increases with the square and cube of the velocity, respectively.
- The rolling resistance depends on factors such as tire material, tire structure, tire temperature, tire inflation pressure, thread geometry, road roughness, and road material.
- The power required to climb a gradient increases with the slope and the weight of the vehicle. However, this power requirement can be managed by reducing the climbing speed.
- The torque requirement for climbing can be challenging to meet, especially for heavier vehicles.