Can A Car's Gas Mileage Be Improved By Adding Golf Ball Dimples?

Posted by Minnesotastan in Car & Vehicle on October 23, 2009 at 12:28 pm

car with dimplesIt has been argued that dirty cars are more fuel efficient than clean ones for the same reason that dimples on a golf ball improve its aerodynamics during flight.  The team at Mythbusters tested these hypotheses and found that a dirty car did NOT achieve improved gas mileage, BUT…

For a full-scale test, Adam and Jamie put a layer of clay on a car and did two more sets of runs on their track – one with a smooth clay surface, the other with dimples pressed into it. The respective fuel efficiencies were calculated as 26 and 29 miles per gallon. Although the original myth was invalid, the theory behind it was sound, leading to a final judgment of “Busted, Concept Plausible”.

Discussion threads on several auto forums discussing the Mythbusters episode note that “shark skin” textures on military fighter aircraft (and on America’s Cup yachts) serve the same purpose, that dimpling on the undercarriage of some Lexus cars reduces noise (by reducing friction), and that textured paint is banned on professional race cars.

Mythbusters achieved the dimpled effect using modeling clay applied to the surface of a Ford Taurus.  It’s not clear whether the same effect could be achieved with a ball-peen hammer.

Screencap credit.  A brief YouTube video of the car (not the full episode) is here.

 
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Fun With Gas

Posted by Queuebot in Science & Tech, Video Clips on May 3, 2009 at 3:09 pm


[YouTube - Link]


Most people know that inhaling helium will make your voice sound like Donald Duck, but what gas will make you sound like Darth Vader? 

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Marilyn Terrell.

 
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