utmost Velocities in a Quarter Mile

To verify the maximum speed possible for a wheel driven vehicle we will suppose that the coefficient of friction between the tires and the ground is unity. For this case the utmost acceleration is one g. We are able to use a simple equation from kinematics to solve for v_max,

v_max,=√2gd,

Where d is the distance Then

v_max =√2 × 32.2 × 1320

v_max = 291.6 ft/sec = 198.8 mi/hr

It was long supposed that the assumption of unity coefficient of friction was appropriate for a wheel drive vehicle with rubber tires. Though, this is wrong if the tires develop significant viscous friction against the road surface. Actually the viscous friction developed by melting rubber has a coefficient proportional to velocity-the faster the tires rotate the greater the motive force. With the development of dragster engines able of spinning the wheels at high rates the maximum speed limit calculated above has been completely shattered. The present record is greater than 300mph with no end in sight!