Re: [Phys-l] truck mileage

["Bill Nettles" <bnettles@uu.edu>]

I agree the data are questionable
 
OR
the truck driver doesn't go as fast when he has 10000# of cows :)
 
Is there a baseline gas mileage with a nonlinear increase (arctangent) as the weight decreases? Gas mileages are notoriously non-linear for most variables.

> > > Kathy Daniel <kcdohs@comcast.net> 5/7/2008 4:02 pm >>>
I have quite an interesting problem that I cannot explain...

Our Ag teacher set up this scenario for me:

one 5000# truck gets about 18 miles per gallon
same 5000# truck pulling a 4000# trailer gets 8 miles per gallon
same 5000# truck pulling a 4000# trailer + 10000# of cows ALSO  gets 8  
miles per gallon.

Any ideas why the empty and the full trailer both get the same  
mileage?  This same pattern is also present in a different trailer and  
truck combination.

thanks,
Kathy


Kathy Daniel
Oakland High School
Murfreesboro, TN  37130
kcdohs@comcast.net

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