Which equation describes the platoon ratio, Rp?

• A. Rp = (P)/(g + c)
• B. Rp = (P)/(g × c)
• C. Rp = (P)/(g/c)
• D. Rp = (g)/(P × c)

Answer: (C)

The platoon ratio, denoted as ( R_p ), is an important concept in traffic flow analysis, particularly in the study of vehicle platoons at signalized intersections. It represents the ratio of the number of vehicles in a platoon to the number of vehicles that can pass through an intersection in one cycle, accounting for the green time available for vehicles to move.

In the formula provided, ( P ) represents the total number of vehicles in the platoon, ( g ) signifies the green time (the duration in seconds that stops are allowed during the signal), and ( c ) corresponds to the cycle time of the traffic signal. The correct formulation of the platoon ratio captures how the flow of traffic during the green phase is impacted by these variables.

The equation ( R_p = \frac{P}{g/c} ) rearranges to express the principle that while ( g ) indicates the active passage time, dividing by ( c ) establishes a measure of the throughput related to the entire cycle. This calculation reveals how the effective flow from the platoon compares to the capacity during that portion of the signal cycle.

This makes it clear that the platoon ratio does not simply rely on the total vehicles passing in a straightforward