Elementary Physics Applied to Automobile Fuel Economy

Authors

Franklin D. Trumpy, Des Moines Area Community College

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Science educators, especially physics teachers, are frequently confronted with stories about devices and carburetors that permit ordinary cars to get spectacular fuel economy. The claims often exceed 46 kilometers per liter (110 mpg). By applying basic physics as taught at the high school or college freshman level, one can measure the average power output of an automobile at any speed and calculate the maximum possible fuel economy that can be expected.

Publication Date

September 1982

Journal Title

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Volume

19

Issue

1

First Page

2

Last Page

6

Copyright

© Copyright 1982 by the Iowa Academy of Science

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Trumpy, Franklin D. (1982) "Elementary Physics Applied to Automobile Fuel Economy," Iowa Science Teachers Journal: Vol. 19: No. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/istj/vol19/iss1/2