There are many types of racing in this age; from NASCAR and Formula 1 grand spectacles, to Pinewood Derby and CO2 small scale drag races. Despite the differences between all the different types and the rules and restrictions, they all still share connections that branch over several spaces. One of these, and the most relevant to racing itself, is Physics, in particular how it affects the racing vehicles. These forces have always existed, but have been discovered relatively recently. And extremely recently, the exploration of science has become more pertinent as we explore the possibilities of human achievement and seek to bend the rules so we can race faster, fly farther, and become more efficient. In racing, several different areas of
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As many people know, the heavier an object, the more force required to move that object. Ergo, the lighter an object, the faster it accelerates. When drag racing, in this case with CO2 powered cars, there are several techniques to help reduce mass, allowing for quicker acceleration and a victory on the track. Primarily, the choice of building material makes an incredible difference. Building materials can be purchased at hobby stores, and those typically provide a block of wood to construct the car. However, due to the incredible resources of the Foothill Engineering and Technology program, 3D printed plastic will become the material of choice for all competitors. The plastic is considerably lighter than wood and can be printed to any specifications in perfect symmetry. Another thing to take into consideration, is the design of the car. Obviously, the less vehicle on the track, the lighter it will be. But, the carving out the entire car to nothing may not hold as much merit as it sounds. The car must last being launched upwards of 70 miles per hour, and reducing the amount of vehicle could potentially reduce the aerodynamic capability of the car. In brief, the mass of the car is vital to success of …show more content…
Friction is the natural resistance of object to movement. There are several sources of friction when racing at high speeds, the ground and air provided the major sources of friction. The air is the most manipulatable, and will be addressed in another section (See paragraph 3). However, the ground is a constant force of friction that can be reduced in a few ways which may give the edge in a race. Typically in racing, the motion forward is produced by the tires rotating on the ground, propelling the vehicle forward. In this situation, the objective is grip, or friction; the more friction the better, especially in Formula 1 racing, when the driver need to take turns at high speeds without losing control. The same goes for real drag racing, the motion comes from the wheels and those tires need to create as much friction with the ground as possible to push the car forward. However, in CO2 drag racing, the propulsion comes from the burst of gas in the back of the car, so the wheels should maintain as little friction as possible, they are only there to keep the car going in a straight line and more the acceleration more effective by rotating and maintain momentum. This can be achieved by having slick wheels that contact the group as little as possible. Some small scale racers even recommend only putting three wheels on the track to decrease friction
As many people know, the heavier an object, the more force required to move that object. Ergo, the lighter an object, the faster it accelerates. When drag racing, in this case with CO2 powered cars, there are several techniques to help reduce mass, allowing for quicker acceleration and a victory on the track. Primarily, the choice of building material makes an incredible difference. Building materials can be purchased at hobby stores, and those typically provide a block of wood to construct the car. However, due to the incredible resources of the Foothill Engineering and Technology program, 3D printed plastic will become the material of choice for all competitors. The plastic is considerably lighter than wood and can be printed to any specifications in perfect symmetry. Another thing to take into consideration, is the design of the car. Obviously, the less vehicle on the track, the lighter it will be. But, the carving out the entire car to nothing may not hold as much merit as it sounds. The car must last being launched upwards of 70 miles per hour, and reducing the amount of vehicle could potentially reduce the aerodynamic capability of the car. In brief, the mass of the car is vital to success of …show more content…
Friction is the natural resistance of object to movement. There are several sources of friction when racing at high speeds, the ground and air provided the major sources of friction. The air is the most manipulatable, and will be addressed in another section (See paragraph 3). However, the ground is a constant force of friction that can be reduced in a few ways which may give the edge in a race. Typically in racing, the motion forward is produced by the tires rotating on the ground, propelling the vehicle forward. In this situation, the objective is grip, or friction; the more friction the better, especially in Formula 1 racing, when the driver need to take turns at high speeds without losing control. The same goes for real drag racing, the motion comes from the wheels and those tires need to create as much friction with the ground as possible to push the car forward. However, in CO2 drag racing, the propulsion comes from the burst of gas in the back of the car, so the wheels should maintain as little friction as possible, they are only there to keep the car going in a straight line and more the acceleration more effective by rotating and maintain momentum. This can be achieved by having slick wheels that contact the group as little as possible. Some small scale racers even recommend only putting three wheels on the track to decrease friction