Date:         Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:00:54 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fuel consumption in different gears - how does the energy /
              fuel work?
Comments: To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <FCD62DC7-F12E-423D-9F41-953B80CB4BB9@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 3/25/2012 12:34 PM, Alistair Bell wrote:
> Work done is torque applied for unit time.

No. Work requires movement. No matter how long and hard you push
something, unless you move it, you haven't done any work. Work is force
x distance. Time has nothing to do with it. Power is the rate work is
done, work/time.

> Minimal torque situation...

You then go on to build an entire, lengthy, case based on that incorrect
proposition. I suspect energy (basically, accumulated work) is more
closely related to engine life than some force x time factor. And power
is invariant through a transmission (excepting frictional losses).

Can you cite references to back up your claim that "the useable
lifetime...is related primarily to the total work generated," especially
if you use your definition of work as force X time?