ABSTRACT
The fundamentals of a vehicle’s design are embedded in the basic mechanicsofphysics,particularlyinNewton’ssecondlawofmotion,whichrelates forceandacceleration.Newton’ssecondlawstatesthattheaccelerationof anobjectisproportionaltothenetforceexertedonit.Theobjectaccelerates whenthenetforceisnonzero,wherethetermnetforcereferstotheresultant of the forces acting on the object. In the vehicle system, several forces act on itwiththeresultantornetforcedictatingthemotionaccordingtoNewton’s secondlaw.Avehiclepropelsforwardwiththeaidoftheforcedeliveredby thepropulsionunitovercomingtheresistingforcesduetogravity,andair andtireresistance.Theaccelerationandspeedofthevehicledependson the power available from the traction unit and the existing road and aerodynamicconditions.Theaccelerationalsodependsonthecompositemass ofthevehicleincludingthepropulsionunit,allmechanicalandelectrical components, and the batteries.
