Is there a difference between either acceleration in cars at different altitudes (say, Denver and Florida) relating to air pressure?
Your question is unclear. Do you mean a difference due to less air (oxygen) being available for combustion, resulting in less power for acceleration? Or do you mean less air resistance to be overcome for acceleration? In either case the answer is yes, but they act in different directions.
Hm, honestly, I’m not sure. I had someone who races cars tell me that cars in Idaho where she used to live were “slower than here at sea level.”
Just trying to figure that one out. So, I guess it’s more along your first suggestion.
That’s due to denser air at sea level or at colder temps providing more power to the engine. It breathes better with cool, dense air, and thus can consume more gas and create more power.
On a normally aspriated engine, as you go up in altitude, preformance goes down. Way down if you go high enough.
The air pressure drops, and therefore there is less oxygen available for the engine. No Oxygen = no power.
First time I rented a car in Denver I got one that was the twin of what I owned at home. Boy was it slow. Then I drove it to Rocky Mountain National Park at 12,000 it was a true slug.
On forced induction engines, the computer may (depending on the design) work to overcome the lack of oxygen by playing with the turbo boost pressure. I know of one turbo that at 7500 feet is within 3% of its preformance at sea level.