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In case I've forgotten something about physics (thruster question)

ZoomsansVroom

Supporting Member
May 3, 2019
180
56
29577
Eletrek had some crazy statement about the thrusters on the Roadster letting it "hover"

A) No idea why a car would ever need upforce, so bit odd...
B) Its still F=ma, right? So, even at hundreds of miles per hour - say even a a thousand miles per hour, we'd still be talking about hundreds of pounds of compressed gas being vented, correct?
C) Anyone remember enough about orifices and pressures, to figure what's the lightest poundage of compressed gas that could meaningfully improve 0-60 times?
 
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brianman

Burrito Founder
Nov 10, 2011
17,515
2,980
A) No idea why a car would ever need upforce, so bit odd...
My interpretation was that the thrusters need to be adjustable (i.e. not fixed position) and that the range of rotation includes (nearly?) straight down as well as (nearly?) straight up. Straight down allows for hovering. In other words, it's a parlor trick allowed by the design rather than a design criteria.
 

Uncle Paul

Well-Known Member
Nov 1, 2013
6,105
6,607
Canyon Lake,CA
If the thrusters can generate more lbs of thrust than the car weights, it can indeed hover.

No practical reason for this, but will generate millions in publicity.

Thrusters will be mostly to accelerate and vector car.
 

Wnix05

Member
May 7, 2019
80
118
Sacramento
You could use thrusters to aid in cornering. Imagine going around a track without slowing (much) around curves. It could be g-force activated compensatory side thrusters!
 

Brando

Active Member
Sep 27, 2016
2,842
1,984
Bainbridge Island, WA
My speculation only: Part of the use of "thrusters" might well be to lower the air pressure under the Roadster which would increase the down force which of course increases the tire traction. Tire traction is limiting function. [acceleration/stopping/cornering]

Some history 1977
Undertray or Underbody
 
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DarthPierce

Member
Jun 29, 2016
233
334
Boulder, CO
Really like that idea.. would mean there's no theoretical limit to cornering speed I think
There certainly are limits.
There will be a limit to the amount of force generated by a cold gas thruster, there are limits to the amount of time the thruster can activate before needing to have the COPV replenished, and, even ignoring the above, there are limits to the amount of lateral G force a human can withstand.
 
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bolosky

Member
May 5, 2009
697
587
There certainly are limits.
There will be a limit to the amount of force generated by a cold gas thruster, there are limits to the amount of time the thruster can activate before needing to have the COPV replenished, and, even ignoring the above, there are limits to the amount of lateral G force a human can withstand.

Maybe it will come with a G-suit option. :) (I'm kidding, I know that they're really only useful for pullups where the blood drains to you legs, which isn't something a car will do.)
 

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