Ever since I was a kid wanted to ask this if I suspend a car mid air and rev it up to 100mph then drop it how far would it go without me touching the gas or break not even once?
Ever since I was a kid wanted to ask this if I suspend a car mid air and rev it up to 100mph then drop it how far would it go without me touching the gas or break not even once?
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In order for the car to move forward, it needs to push against the ground. There needs to be a force of friction in between the tire and a surface to get that initial velocity. “Revving” it in mid air would not give you any initial forward motion, so you would expect a straight drop down - although depending on how the weight was distributed it might roll in the air.
Presumably they mean they'd rev the engine and spin the wheels to the same condition as 100mph on level ground, since you can't rev to any mph, and starting at 0mph is part of the scenario.
So I guess the question would be if the KE stored in the spinning wheels would be enough to move the car forward in the absence of thrust?
I still don’t think this is working the way anyone is envisioning it.
I think it would be a nonzero amount, but not a lot.
Imagine spinning your wheels on ice at a high RPM, and then suddenly they catch traction. You'll jump forwards, but since OP specified that you also cut power at that instant, you'll just be rolling to a stop.
I don't think it's very far removed from dumping the clutch and stalling the engine, if that makes it a more familiar scenario.
There would be no forward momentum, but there would be angular momentum in the wheels, drive train, and engine. Friction with the pavement would convert some of the latter into the former.
It seemed clear to me that they meant how far it would go after it touched the ground.
Yes - I understood that. My point still stands.
It wouldn’t have built up any velocity. There would be no means for it to accelerate. After it touches the ground, it would have no forward momentum.
Tires are perhaps mostly air by volume, but the rubber and the rims would store some kinetic energy spinning in place, also some in the axles and perhaps even all the way to the engine if things don't break instantly. That energy would go against the ground on landing and push the car some distance forward - I would expect the answer to be in the range of a few feet (meters) but it's what I think OP is asking