What Speed is Displayed on the Car Speedometer?
3 Answers
Instantaneous speed. Here is the relevant introduction: Instantaneous speed: The speed of a moving object at a certain moment or position is called instantaneous speed; the speed displayed on the car speedometer changes continuously over time and represents the speed at each moment, hence it is instantaneous speed. Car speed sensor: As the information source of the car's electronic control system, the car speed sensor is a key component of the car's electronic control system and one of the core research areas in automotive electronic technology. It detects the speed of the electronically controlled car, and the control computer uses this input signal to control engine idle speed, torque converter lock-up in automatic transmissions, automatic transmission shifting, engine cooling fan operation, cruise control, and other functions.
I usually pay close attention to the speedometer, which displays the vehicle's instantaneous speed, typically in kilometers per hour or miles per hour. This value is calculated based on the wheel speed sensor, measuring the distance traveled per wheel rotation and converting it into speed over time. However, it may deviate from the actual speed because factors like tire size and pressure changes affect measurement accuracy. Manufacturers usually design the displayed speed to be slightly higher than the true speed to avoid speeding tickets. I've compared it with GPS speed on my phone's navigation—when the dashboard shows 120, the actual speed is around 115. Also, the error becomes more significant when using wider tires or snow chains, so maintaining a safe following distance is crucial.
The reading on the speedometer indicates the current speed of the vehicle, with the unit of measurement depending on the car model. In China, it's mostly kilometers per hour. Its working principle is quite interesting—it calculates the speed by monitoring the rotation speed of the wheel axle and the preset tire circumference. However, there are inaccuracies involved. For example, when tires wear down and the circumference decreases, the calculated speed becomes higher than actual. I've heard of cases where car enthusiasts changed to tires with different aspect ratios, resulting in the speedometer showing 100 when the actual speed was only 92. Additionally, variations in tire pressure due to changes in vehicle load can also affect accuracy, making regular tire checks necessary. It's best not to rely entirely on the displayed speed, especially when taking sharp turns at high speeds—always leave a safety margin.
