All Torque
Member
Registered: 17th Nov 05
Location: Milton Keynes Drives: Ford Focus TDCi
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Okay guys, who can explain how much drag is created by a fully opened window at around 50mph?
I know it may not be accurate but does it affect mpg and accelleration?
I guess it will be greater on a 1.2 corsa than a 3.0 BMW as they're different shapes and the corsa is lighter and therefor be greater affected by drag
Cheers in advance.
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
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why would you want to know
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All Torque
Member
Registered: 17th Nov 05
Location: Milton Keynes Drives: Ford Focus TDCi
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Just wondered
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mattyross
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Registered: 22nd Dec 05
Location: lincolnshire Drives: 1997 C12NZ
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ive wondered too,, seeing as i drive everywhere with my window open
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Ry_B
Banned
Registered: 1st Dec 05
Location: Solihull, W Mids Drives: 45BHP beast!
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quote: Originally posted by Matty G
why would you want to know
To save petrol? To go faster?
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RichR
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Oct 01
Location: Waterhouses, Staffordshire
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weight doesnt really have anything to do with it - its more about shape
Drag is a fucntion of 0.5 * density of liquid(air in this case 1.25kg/m^3)* Area(frontal)*Velocity^"(M/s) * a coeeficient of lift
anyway nto to et too technical - velocity is the major issue - but if everything else was the same - the only variable would be the Frontal area!
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RichR
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Oct 01
Location: Waterhouses, Staffordshire
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btw -I've just been accepted to do a Masters of Aerodynamics at Southampton University, but I'm going to defer a year
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RichR
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Oct 01
Location: Waterhouses, Staffordshire
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the air that circulates into the cockpit should not be a major issue as at velocity, the air shouldnt circulate into the cockpit through an open window with enough force as the laminar flow will effectively "stick" the flow to the car - only becoming turbulent around mirrors, uneven surfaces or off the back
the drivers window will be in the transitional zone and as such you shouldnt see any major effect between cars
however the angle of incidence will have an effect - if BMW are more perpendicular to the direction of travel, then they will hold laminar flow more, if the opening into the corsa is at more of an angle to the flow then it could cause turbulence
i/e
-> --------- Direction of flow will not really be affected by window
-> / (not that severe but you get thepoint) you will get a stagnation point and more turbulent flow
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All Torque
Member
Registered: 17th Nov 05
Location: Milton Keynes Drives: Ford Focus TDCi
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You've answered my question then, Thanks Lee
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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quote: Originally posted by LiVe LeE
btw -I've just been accepted to do a Masters of Aerodynamics at Southampton University, but I'm going to defer a year
But because this is Corsasport, somone will have watched a TV program or read something in the Daily Mail and prove your wrong
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Jake
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Registered: 24th Jan 05
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how right have you been recently, ed?
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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I tend to refrain from bull-shitting. Thats the point I was making.
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Jake
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Registered: 24th Jan 05
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I agree, also too many people regurgitating information. Blind leading the blind some would say.
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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It's like chinese whispers on here sometimes. Well, most of the time.
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