jml@ihlts.UUCP (Joe LeClercq) (09/07/84)
IFYOUCANREADTHISTHELINEBUGHASBEENFIXED-IFYOUCANTTHENWHYTHEHELLAMIDOINGTHIS?! Many times while travelling over some of the more hairy mountain roads out west, I've come across the following sign: 7% GRADE AHEAD TRUCKS USE LOW GEAR (or something to that effect). Sometimes the % number is slightly higher or lower. I realize this indicates a steep incline in the road. My question is: what the hell does "7% GRADE" mean?! 7% of what? On what ratio is this number based? I can't remember whether a higher number means a steeper grade or just the opposite. Does anyone know what these numbers represent? Has anyone seen an extremely high or extremely low X%? -- Joe LeClercq AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, Il. ..!ihnp4!ihlts!jml (312) 979-2165
res@ihuxn.UUCP (Rich Strebendt) (09/07/84)
In reply to:
| My question is: what the hell does "7% GRADE" mean?! 7% of what?
The %grade of a road or of a railway is simply
100 * (rise or fall)/(run)
That is, a 1% grade is a 1 foot rise or fall in 100 feet. For
comparison, a 2% grade on a railroad is a rather steep grade. For a
road, the %-grade allowed is quite a bit higher than for a railroad.
Rich Strebendt
...!ihnp4!ihuxn!res
qwerty@drutx.UUCP (JonesBD) (09/08/84)
I believe the interpretation of 7% grade is that the road drops at a rate of 7 feet, inches, foos, etc. for every 100 feet, inches, foos, etc. of travel.
2141smh@aluxe.UUCP (henning) (09/08/84)
**** **** From the keys of Steve Henning, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, PA aluxe!2141smh 7% means you climb vertically 7 feet every 100 feet horizontally you travel. Thus, it turn out you climb 1000 feet every 2.7 miles you drive.
tron@fluke.UUCP (Shoo Bop de Wap) (09/11/84)
7% grade = 7 feet of vertical displacement for every 100 feet of horizontal displacement. The pitch of your roof is stated in a similar manner, as in a 3 to 4 pitch is 3 feet of vertical for 4 feet of hoizontal. Peter
ajs@hpfcla.UUCP (09/17/84)
Nf-From: hpfcla!ajs Sep 17 16:17:00 1984
>> My question is: what the hell does "7% GRADE" mean?!
So much for the serious answers. The humorous reply:
"Watch your ass, there's a real mother of a hill coming up!"
(e.g. Interstate 70 east from the Eisenhower Tunnel, and the section
through the foothills into Denver.)
heiser@cca.UUCP (Bill Heiser) (09/20/84)
If I'm not mistaken, 7% grade means the road descends/ascends 7 feet for every 100 feet of distance travelled. decvax!cca!heiser Bill Heiser