Got an idea for weight reduction...

[jwahl425]

Well, being the inventive person I am I thought of a way to decrease weight of a vehicle without removing any parts, well my idea is this.. most of you guys that race have fuel cells so you have this big space where your gas tank used to be right? well if so then I propose that someone could buy/design/make an aluminum or similar container as large as the underbody by the gas tank would allow and make sure that it is air tight with 0 psi leakage, now put a valve on the tank similar to a tire pressure valve and fill the tank up with... helium, as many of you know helium will rise above the air because it is less dense, now here is to some more info:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/question185.htm

now pack that tank as full as you can with helium and it should create a negative mass effect on your car, and I'm sure someone Will have the answer as to how much exactly would be needed to notice a diff., just an idea so don't hate, sure it sounds stupid but think about it, this would lighten the car more then say, removing ac and powersteering now then wouldn't it?

 

[SlowSpyder]

a 20 gallon tank filled helium would only lift .1789 lbs. That wont even cover the weight of the aluminum tank.

 

[jwahl425]

WOW, boy was I off, even if it's pressurized in the tank?probably not even worth it if it would only rise 4 to 5 lbs, oh well, worth a try.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Pressurizing the tank would just stuff more mass into the same volume - that means the weight would actually increase (since the density is going up but the total volume isn't). If you pressurize helium enough, you counter all of its "buoyant" effects.

 

[E Racer X]

If you want light weight and easy, start with your wheels. To simplify the calculations for rolling inertia multiply the weight of the wheel by 4, give you a good ballpark, basically every 1lb. extra or less = 4lbs.

 

[napkinthief]

then imagine if you hit a speed bump a bit too hard?

real life scene from fast and furious when the asians rush in and gun up the clips

 

[TSiWarrior]

NAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWS!


Funny part is nos isnt flamable unless exposed to extreme tempature and or combustion....

Put a lighter up to any nitruous purge if you dont belive me.

 

[jtmcinder]

now pack that tank as full as you can with helium and it should create a negative mass effect on your car

Negative mass? As in anti-matter? Cool! But where are you going to get the dilithium crystals to get it all to work? And what about the required magnetic containment field? I mean, no track is going to let you drive in there with a tank full of anti-matter and no containment field. They might be drag-racers, but they aren't stupid. So I'm worried that by the time you get a legal set-up it will weigh more than zero.

- Jtoby

ps. April First sure came early this year

 

[Turbo Shogun]

I don't think it'll work unless you can blow up your gas tank and make a giraffe out of it.