REFLECTOR: The law of conservation energy.

[Lawrence J. Epstein, MD]

As below, the "heat" generated is likely the same, although there may be
some energy radiated as light, it is not likely significant and there is
no change in other forms of energy (other than kinetic).  

What is confusing people is that whereas the heat generated is the same,
the peak temperature may be lower, by virtue of differences in specific
heat of the materials, engineering of airflow, radiant and conductive
cooling, etc......

 

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Laurence Coen
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 1:05 PM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: REFLECTOR: The law of conservation energy.

 

Any vehicle, (plane,train, auto) that uses friction breaks to stop
converts kinetic energy, (speed x weight) to heat.  Therefore, Cleveland
or Matco, the same plane at the same speed will make the same heat.  Why
then do the Clevlands stop better than the Matco?  The Clevlands larger
diameter disk provides greater braking torque for the same friction due
to the longer moment arm but the increase in diameter also increases the
surface speed at the same wheel rotational speed and therefore the same
heat (no free lunch).  The larger disk has two things going for it.  A
larger thermal mass to absorb heat and greater surface area to reject
heat.

 

Larry Coen

N136LC

SE/RG Franklin/IVO, Stops fine Matco

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/private/reflector/attachments/20080318/f177e994/attachment.htm