So as some of you may remember there was a thread on here about a guy who folded the back seats of his car down to make it go faster because of the seats apparently being lighter when down. (if anyone could post a link to the it that would be great as I can't find it any more) Everyone was quick to say how wrong he was but nobody conducted any tests. Until now.

I used a triple pack of Pringles to represent the back seats of a car and used a set of kitchen scales to measure the weight.

 

Set the scales to zero:

 

Place pringles on scales in upright position:

As you can see the pringles weigh 1.5lb

 

Then I placed the pringles horizontally as if they were the back seats of a car that had been folded down:

 

As you can see, it now weighs only 1lb. It has lost 1/3 of its weight just by turning it sideways!

 

So I will now only drive with my seats up if I have a passenger in the back and you can do the same too. Thank me later when you see the benefits in the performance of your car and at the pumps.

If I walk around sideways will I be lighter ? 

If you didn't put the Pringles in the car at all then it'd be lighter. Standing them up in the car or lying them on the back seats won't make the car faster or slower, but leaving them at home will.

Or eat the Pringles, and then lie down on the back seats, that should work as well.

If I walk around sideways will I be lighter ? 

Probably, if you have some bathroom scales it would be interesting to see the results.

I think your experiment is comprimised by the fact the worktop is actually part of the car, so you need to weigh the whole worktop and your pringles whilst in both positions

 

Folding seats down does little more in my eyes than perhaps move the weight distribution overall about 1mm further to the ground, if that.

To be a proper experiment, there has to be a control group. Do you have piccies of scales with no pringles? Also, are we the only test group for your theory? Is it real or are we on placebos?

I think your experiment is comprimised by the fact the worktop is actually part of the car, so you need to weigh the whole worktop and your pringles whilst in both positions

 

Folding seats down does little more in my eyes than perhaps move the weight distribution overall about 1mm further to the ground, if that.

I think they were trolling

The Pringles can needs to be only on the scales pressure plate and not the table

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/index.php?/topic/329444-Have-you-ever-wanted-a-racing-car%3F

I think they were trolling

You think I didn't know that?!    :P

To be a proper experiment, there has to be a control group. Do you have piccies of scales with no pringles? Also, are we the only test group for your theory? Is it real or are we on placebos?

The first pic is of the scales with nothing on them, showing it set to zero.

 

I think they were trolling

No, never.  :no:

 

The Pringles can needs to be only on the scales pressure plate and not the table

:clap:   

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/index.php?/topic/329444-Have-you-ever-wanted-a-racing-car%3F

Thanks. that's the one.

I have to admit that if the originator of the story copied your experiment by reclining his seats and having his passengers' heads lying on the road he probably would notice a reduction in the total mass of the car.

 

Even more so as he drove along.

Edited 2 February, 201511 yr by Aspman

Wouldn't it be a more effective fuel saving measure to remove the front and back seats and to only fit them when they are needed by passengers?

P.S. The Edited by entry below is getting on my wick!

Edited 2 February, 201511 yr by DGW

I have to admit that if the originator of the story copied your experiment by reclining his seats and having his passengers' heads lying on the road he probably would notice a reduction in the total mass of the car.

 

Even more so as he drove along.

And if he did it with his own seat as well the world would be a better place.

Following a similar principle, if you were ever in a critical low fuel situation, remember to drive quickly so you reach your destination before you run out.

Following a similar principle, if you were ever in a critical low fuel situation, remember to drive quickly so you reach your destination before you run out.

I do that when I'm full anyway so there's no difference

What... did I just read???

What... did I just read???

An important, accurate scientific study as to why you should lay your back seats down flat.

More to the point, how is this in General Car?? It's not even fit for Off Topic, more like Off The Planet.

 

By the way, I think you need to redo your test a bit further away from any large close planets, as they are clearly affecting the weight of your Pringles. I also presume that you are using virgin Pringles, and not the ones containing "heavy" salt isotopes?

More to the point, how is this in General Car?? It's not even fit for Off Topic, more like Off The Planet.

 

By the way, I think you need to redo your test a bit further away from any large close planets, as they are clearly affecting the weight of your Pringles. I also presume that you are using virgin Pringles, and not the ones containing "heavy" salt isotopes?

They are Sour cream and onion flavored. The only ones I like and therefore the only ones in the test. I must stress that this test was conducted under strict scientific conditions ruling out any possible planetary interference.

Can you shout a bit louder as you are obviously talking out of Uranus.

I'll get my coat. .......

Drinking a Gallon of syrup of Figs will make you lighter, better than the pringle theory

Drinking a Gallon of syrup of Figs will make you lighter, better than the pringle theory

Wrong! It will not make you lighter because it will make you disappear up your own rear end.

There are definitely some control issues with this experiment.

1. Can you confirm whether the tubes of Pringles are sealed or open? - There is surely less air density in a low vacuum sealed container therefore weighing less.

2. Are the Pringles contained within all whole? Everyone knows that broken snacks have a greater surface area and therefore weigh more.

3. Where is the 'control' element of the same experiment carried out with alternative brands of stackable potato based snacks? ALDI Stackers for example. Moreover, have different flavours and the bearing this may have on the initial weight of the product been taken into consideration??