Why do cars speed up?

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Hiawatha Bray - 19 Sep 2004 03:42 GMT

Odd as this may seem, I got to wondering about it and hoped someone with an
engineering background can explain it to me.

I want to know the precise technical reason for a car's speeding up when you
step on the gas. I assume it's because you insert more fuel into each
cylinder, causing a more intense combustion which shoves the pistons down
faster, which turns the crankshaft faster.

Is that right?

Anybody?

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sdlomi2 - 19 Sep 2004 15:15 GMT

> Odd as this may seem, I got to wondering about it and hoped someone with an
> engineering background can explain it to me.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Anybody?

"10-4".

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Thomas Sch?fer - 20 Sep 2004 10:30 GMT

> I want to know the precise technical reason for a car's speeding up when you
> step on the gas.

Speeding up requires more force than is actually consumed
by friction (from piston to wheels), air drag etc.

> I assume it's because you insert more fuel into each
> cylinder, causing a more intense combustion

More fuel (with the correct amount of air) give a longer (diesel)
or more intense (gas) combustion, thus excerting more pressure
on the piston.
You are perfectly right, it's the combustion where any movement starts.

> which shoves the pistons down faster, which turns the crankshaft faster.

And this way the additional force is transferred to the wheels.
With a fixed gear, the acceleration of the engine and car are going
together.

Thomas

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Refinish King - 23 Sep 2004 02:17 GMT

NO!

It's done from the mystical powers from above!

Refinish King

> Odd as this may seem, I got to wondering about it and hoped someone with an
> engineering background can explain it to me.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Anybody?

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