1. What is the Quarter Mile Time Equation?

The quarter mile time equation estimates the elapsed time (ET) for a street car to complete a quarter mile drag race based on its weight and horsepower. This provides a theoretical performance benchmark for comparison.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the quarter mile equation:

Where:

• \( Weight \) — Vehicle weight in pounds (lbs)
• \( HP \) — Engine horsepower (hp)
• 6.29 — Empirical constant for street cars

Explanation: The equation shows that quarter mile time is proportional to the cube root of the weight-to-power ratio.

3. Importance of Quarter Mile Calculation

Details: Quarter mile time is a standard performance metric that helps compare vehicle acceleration capabilities and estimate real-world performance.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter vehicle weight in pounds and engine horsepower. Both values must be greater than zero for valid calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this formula?
A: It provides a reasonable estimate for street cars but actual times vary based on traction, gearing, driver skill, and other factors.

Q2: What's considered a good quarter mile time?
A: For production cars, under 14 seconds is quick, under 12 is very fast, and under 10 is exceptional.

Q3: Does this account for drivetrain losses?
A: No, this uses raw horsepower. For wheel horsepower, results may be slightly slower.

Q4: Can I use this for motorcycles?
A: This formula is optimized for cars. Motorcycles have different power-to-weight dynamics.

Q5: Why the cube root relationship?
A: Acceleration depends on power-to-weight ratio, but elapsed time accumulates this effect over distance.