veojõudu

Veojõud is the force that causes an object to move by pulling or drawing. In Estonian, veojõudu is the genitive or partitive inflection of veojõud. The concept is used in physics and engineering to describe the pushing or pulling force that drives motion, typically acting along the direction of travel. It is a vector quantity, with magnitude measured in newtons and direction aligned with the motion.

In vehicle engineering, veojõud refers specifically to the force transmitted to the surface by the drive wheels to propel a vehicle. The maximum traction is determined by the friction between the tire and the surface, and it is often approximated by the product of the friction coefficient μ and the normal force N (μN). On level ground, N is approximately equal to the vehicle mass times gravitational acceleration (mg). On inclines, N changes with the slope angle, reducing or increasing available traction accordingly.

The actual veojõud available for acceleration depends on engine torque, gear ratio, and wheel radius. Roughly, the traction force at the wheels can be estimated by F ≈ τ / r, where τ is the engine torque at the driven axle and r is the effective wheel radius. Power delivered to the motion is the product of traction force and speed (P = F · v), and practical traction is affected by wheel slip, tire wear, surface conditions, and drivetrain losses.

Veojõud is a key concept in designing and analyzing propulsion systems, locomotion, and any mechanism that relies on a pulling or pushing force to achieve motion.