4 ms·
I was curious, so I ran the numbers on a Toyota Camry. With a mass of 1447 kg, a cross-sectional area of 2.7 square meters, and a drag coefficient of 0.28, it w
by skykooler 6y ago
I was curious, so I ran the numbers on a Toyota Camry. With a mass of 1447 kg, a cross-sectional area of 2.7 square meters, and a drag coefficient of 0.28, it would have a terminal velocity of 391 mph. Other cars which are both heavier and more aerodynamic (e.g. a Tesla Model S) could reach even higher top speeds.
- myself248 6y agoYou'd need some sort of drogue chute or fins to keep it pointed nose-down, otherwise it'd tumble like the Beetle in the Top Gear episode just posted. Or maybe being a rear-engined car put the Beetle at a unique disadvantage, and the Camry would orient itself just fine. Junkyards are easy, who's got a helicopter-pilot friend and some land?
- tobmlt 6y agoHa! Sorry - I hadn’t seen your comment when I started mine. Yeah that engine up front will help I think!
- snovv_crash 6y agoFor it to be aerodynamically stable you need the center of mass to be less than ~25% from one end. I don't think a Camry or Model S will do that, it will need stabilization fins.
- NickNameNick 6y agoFor the Tesla, it might help to fill the frunk with water containers. That should bring the center of mass forward and up a little.
- Taniwha 6y agoSo drop an old 50's car with big fins and an empty tank ....
- tobmlt 6y agoSurely this appears quick, but does this Camry maintain ideal orientation all the way to terminal velocity? Hmmm, one could imagine using the front wheel drive as a flywheel for some attitude control... Me thinks a drop test is in order.