quarter_mile.py

import numpy as np
def f(p,t,m,vi):
    return np.sqrt(2*p*t/m+vi**2)
vi=0 # starts at rest
m = 1000 # in kg
delta_t=0.01
# Peak horsepower at wheel
p = 700 * 747 # 700 hp * 747 conversion to Watts
total_dist = 0.25 * 1609.344
dist = 0
total_time = 0
while dist < total_dist:
    vnext = f(p, delta_t, m, vi)
    vavg = (vi + vnext)/2
    # How much additional distance I traveled in this time period
    delta_dist = vavg * delta_t
    # Add that to total_distance traveled thuse far
    dist = dist + delta_dist
    print("Between t="+str(total_time)+" and t="+str(total_time+delta_t)+" we travel to "+str(dist))
    # Increment total time
    total_time += delta_t
    # Set initial velocity to our last one
    vi = vnext
print(total_time)
print("Final velocity is "+str(vnext*2.236936)+" mph")