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To: PugetSoundSoldier
It takes about 9.8 Watts to move one kilogram one meter in one second.

This sounds like an acceleration. But a frictionless car moving at a constant velocity isn't accelerating. Such a car would in fact use no energy except in the first few seconds when it was accelerating up to speed. After that it would just coast. The total energy used would be much smaller than what you've calculated, I think.

62 posted on 03/19/2007 5:28:37 PM PDT by Yardstick
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To: Yardstick
Such a car would in fact use no energy except in the first few seconds when it was accelerating up to speed. After that it would just coast.

You should have stayed awake more often in high school physics class.

Air resistance and drag goes away when you're going a constant speed?
On what planet?

73 posted on 03/19/2007 5:39:33 PM PDT by Publius6961 (MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
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To: Yardstick; PugetSoundSoldier
It takes about 9.8 Watts to move one kilogram one meter in one second.

It sounds as if you are lifting one kilogram (weight of 9.8 newtons) one meter in one second. This would be force x velocity, which is power.

But you aren't lifting mass generally in a car. On level ground and constant speed you are merely overcoming rolling friction and air resistance. So, the actual work done moving the car at a low constant speed is much less. You can't tell how much unless you measure the frictional losses.

Of course, acceleration requires much more work to be done each second.

95 posted on 03/19/2007 6:31:05 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
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