en>Spectral sequence: /* References */ Sándor et al (2006)

2013-06-29T17:33:24Z

References: Sándor et al (2006)

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The energy '''cost of transport''' quantifies the [[Energy efficiency in transportation|energy efficiency]] transporting an animal or vehicle from one place to another. It allows for the comparison dissimilar animals or modes of transportation. It has a wide range of applications, from comparing human [[gait]]s to observing the change in efficiency of trains over time.

It is calculated in one of two ways, both shown in the following definition:

<math>COT \triangleq \frac{W}{mgd} = \frac{P}{mgv}</math>

where <math>W</math> is the energy input to the system, which has mass <math>m</math>, that is used to move the system a distance <math>d</math>, and <math>g</math> is [[Standard gravity]]. Alternatively, one can use the power input to the system <math>P</math> used to move the system at a constant velocity <math>v</math>. The cost of transport is non-dimensional.

It is also called specific tractive force or specific resistance (see [[von Kármán–Gabrielli diagram]]), or the energy index.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shi, 2008|url=http://www.naun.org/multimedia/NAUN/energyenvironment/ee-61.pdf}}</ref> When the energy comes from [[Metabolism|metabolic]] processes (i.e., for animals), it is often called the metabolic cost of transport.

The metabolic cost of transport for human walking is about 0.1.<ref>{{cite web|title=Radhakrishnan, 1998|url=http://www.pnas.org/content/95/10/5448.full}}</ref>

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[[Category:Transport economics]]

Van der Corput's method - Revision history

en>Spectral sequence: /* References */ Sándor et al (2006)