| Revision as of 05:39, 25 November 2004 edit209.165.50.131 (talk)No edit summary | Revision as of 06:14, 26 November 2004 edit undo209.165.40.132 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| Three Wheeled Cars | Three Wheeled Cars | ||
| Most cars we are familiar with have |
Most cars we are familiar with have four wheels. Any three wheel cars we may be familiar with are typically tricycles with one wheel in the front for steering. However, a breed of vehicles having 2 wheels in the front and one wheel in the back has cult-like following among automotive designers and enthusiasts. There are several sound reasons one might desire this odd configuration, but the most compelling is the aerodynamic shape that is inherently allowed. | ||
| For the lowest wind resistance (and best fuel efficiency) a rain drop shape is desired. The surface tension of the water in the rain drop acted on by the air moving past it (or the drop moving past the air) naturally creates this low resistance shape. As the drop begins to fall, the force of the air pushes and distorts the drop. If the force is less in any place, the drop expands in that are. If the force is high in one spot, that spot is pushed in. | For the lowest wind resistance (and best fuel efficiency) a rain drop shape is desired. The surface tension of the water in the rain drop acted on by the air moving past it (or the drop moving past the air) naturally creates this low resistance shape. As the drop begins to fall, the force of the air pushes and distorts the drop. If the force is less in any place, the drop expands in that are. If the force is high in one spot, that spot is pushed in. | ||
Revision as of 06:14, 26 November 2004
Three Wheeled Cars
Most cars we are familiar with have four wheels. Any three wheel cars we may be familiar with are typically tricycles with one wheel in the front for steering. However, a breed of vehicles having 2 wheels in the front and one wheel in the back has cult-like following among automotive designers and enthusiasts. There are several sound reasons one might desire this odd configuration, but the most compelling is the aerodynamic shape that is inherently allowed.
For the lowest wind resistance (and best fuel efficiency) a rain drop shape is desired. The surface tension of the water in the rain drop acted on by the air moving past it (or the drop moving past the air) naturally creates this low resistance shape. As the drop begins to fall, the force of the air pushes and distorts the drop. If the force is less in any place, the drop expands in that are. If the force is high in one spot, that spot is pushed in.
A rain drop is wide and round at the front, tappering to a point at the back. The three wheel configuration alows the two front wheels to create the wide round surface of the vehicle. The single rear wheel allows the vehicle to taper at the back.
But we all remember how our childhood tricycles would tip over in a turn. How does the reverse tricycle configuration handle? Well, it turns out the handling is roughly the same as a conventional 4 wheel vehicle. With the wide front wheels, the tipping is controlled.