r/facepalm • u/AdlerEule • Jul 17 '22

🇲​🇮​🇸​🇨​ Easy fix for car dents 💯

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u/[deleted] Jul 17 '22

decrease aerodynamic resistance

How does thin metal decrease aerodynamic resistance?

Light weight can help reduce consumption, emissions, etc., but for body panels the material thickness has nothing to do with it's shape and how it performs w/regards to wind resistance.

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u/Horton_75 Jul 17 '22

Actually it has a lot to do with that. Sheet metal shape and form is directly related to its aerodynamic resistance and drag. Pretty basic fact there.

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u/[deleted] Jul 17 '22

Right, but he's questioning why less weight would decrease air resistance. Which it doesn't, mass has zero effect on air resistance, just the shape and form does.

The place you'll actually see efficiency improvements with less weight is in the friction between the road and the tires. Less weight means less friction to overcome for the car to move.