How fast does your Prius accelerate?

Metres, obviously. Both feet should be on the brakes, within seconds.

No, wait. This is a trick question. Helicopters don't need runways.

 

How many slugs are there in a Prius?

 

I know that my Prius accelerates faster than my GF's motorhome, but if I ever hit something, the motorhome would impart a lot more damage on whatever was hit. :madgrin:

OT: (yes, I'm veering OT already in this thread) If you think a Prius is a scary vehicle to drive, you need to go test drive a motorhome to gain some appreciation. Besides the lack of basic safety features (no air bags, no brake assist, no skid control, hell, the seat belt warning light isn't even hooked up to the seat belt) there is a serious problem with carrying 75 gal of fuel + 60 gal of water all behind the rear axle. You better do all of your braking before you enter that next turn, because if you don't, you will feel all that water sloshing back and forth wagging the back of the motorhome in the middle of the turn.

And you don't need any special license or training to operate one. Think about that next time you see a 70 year old piloting one toward you on an undivided highway. :madgrin:

 

Not dropped from a helicopter, not fast enough. However, I'm still inclined to see how it does in like SCCA time attack.

 

HAHAHAHAHA!

Tom, you are SERIOUSLY funny and also deranged!

 

Oh come ON I can't be the only engineer here who "get's it"

Am I?

 

I'm still trying to work out the mass of the Prius in slugs. :madgrin:

 

Oy

 

The gravitational acceleration rates are the same, just expressed in different units. Is that the 'joke' Jayman's asking about? I 'got' that right away, and I'm not even an engineer.

OK, what's the REAL joke?

 

If the Prius stabilized in a nose down position I would say it would reach a terminal velocity between 150mph and 200mph.

Somehow you can get the approximate speed and the time it would take to reach that speed. We know 9.8 m/sec^2 and the CD of the Prius. I'm sure someone with math skills can give us the correct numbers.

 

Actually, neither of the answers are correct. The significant downward wind from the helicopter will result in acceleration that is initially greater than "G".

Teacher, can I have more time please? I'm trying to figure out how fast the Earth accelerates toward the Prius for extra credit.

 

Close enough ....