Evan,
I didnt intend to start a ping pong match !
You could time your car to a few different speeds.
Then draw a graph of speed (y axis) v/s time (x axis)
Then calculate the area under the graph up to the speed you are interested in. That gives you the distance traveled to get to that speed.
Sorry to be a PITA but thats the correct way to do it.

The previous comment about the shape of the graph is about right.
it would be of a general form Y= kX^(1/2)
Using BC's converted amounts ~ that is time (X) in sec & your speed in ft/sec, you can work out K.
Then integrating for zero to a given time (20 in your case?)

S=(2/3)xkx(20)^(3/2)

That should give you an answer close to the actual value.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Way too sensible.

Leathermang and BC are correct.


...except that speed is different than velocity.

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Only if acceleration is constant.Only relevant if the car does not travel in a straight line.

Actually there is NO right or wrong answer. If you assume infinite acceleration or infinite braking power then you can pick a number, any number, will be the right answer. In real life, it would be ..., I give up.

I suppose every one flunk their test.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

all correct, but we were given simple parameters and are left to assume kinematics with 2-3 significant figures.

I didn't read the whole thread... sorry if you already hashed this out.

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That's not true. The right answer is that he provided insufficient information to make the calculation. The wrong answer is that acceleration has nothing to do with it. With a bit of research about the acceleration characteristics of similar vehicles, one could write an equation that would give a pretty good estimate. To use the average velocity probably underestimates the distance traveled because I suspect that the acceleration is greater at the beginning of the trip than it is at the end.

Okay, now we've done it . . . we've made math a hot topic! Well done gentlemen, well done!

"pretty good estimate" = not a precise answer
"Insufficient info" = use your imagination
"acceleration has nothing to do with it" = assumption, assume to be constant

If you ask a grade school student, he/she will come up with 1466.67' as they use the most simple logic to get to their answer. They do not dwell into an ivory tower like most members here. There are better things in life to do then trying to fit an answer to a question.

__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

would have been faster just to drive it.......

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

And the only truly accurate way. The figure would vary from car to car - there is no perfect equation for it.

Rocket science is indeed rocket science but at least they have one accelerating force that is known to be constant: gravity. During liftoff, air resistance and uneven acceleration from thrust must be contended with but I'm guessing that the thrust from rockets is more constant. No gear changes.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

When those booster rockets quit and drop off... I would call that a ' gear change '.....LOL

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Here ya go:

D = 1/2 a t2 + ViT where D = distance, a = acceleration, Vi= initial velocity and t= time


D= 1/2 32 ft/sec 2 (20sec) 2 + 0 (20)

D = 16 ft/sec2 (400sec 2 ) = 6400 feet

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

so, you dropped the car off a cliff and it takes 1.21 miles to get reach 100mph?

whats terminal velocity for this vehicle, or CD?

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How many cattle can we fit in a boxcar?

First we assume a square cow.