Wind-powered car goes down wind faster than the wind
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A wind-powered car (sponsored also by Google) has been clocked in the US traveling down wind faster than the wind. In a recent run at New Jerusalem in Tracy, California, the car reached a top speed of more than 2.85 times faster than the wind blowing at the time (13.5 mph) powered by the wind itself.
http://www.physorg.com/news194851568.html
Video on Discovery:
http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/daily-planet/may-2010/daily-planet---may-04-2010/#clip298008The author of the idea wants now overcome 3.0 ratio barrier and maybe reach 4.0.
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Interesting. It would seem to defy conventional wisdom, but yet, there it is.
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seems it would have nothing to do with the wind once its surpassed the winds speed. that would lead to the conclusion that on a calm day it should be able to work from a towed start. which would then call for a conclusion that if it had a small motor on it you could use the motor to get to speed then shut it off...
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That sounds like perpetual motion. The wheels drive the propeller which drives the wheels.
After thinking about it, I have a SWAG as to how this vehicle might be operating. Yes, the wheels drive the propeller which drive the wheels, plus the push of the wind, but it likely wouldn't get these great speeds going upwind, and the wind definitely is necessary. A spinning propeller at idle creates an awful lot of surface area and drag, more so than just the surface are of the blade alone (anybody who has flown a propeller aircraft has experienced this, that's why many props can be "feathered"); so in the case of this vehicle perhaps there is an effect where the air accelerated by the propeller creates a "cushion" of higher pressure air behind it and that, combined with the pressure of the wind on the sail/propeller and the additional thrust from the wheels, gives it the boost to go faster than the speed of the wind itself. A very interesting feedback loop.
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was it downhill? haha
and yes Escape Artist....your theory is similar to a turbo charger.
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