Anytime the steering wheel is moved while the car is in motion, a lateral or sideways force is created. This force is pushing in the opposite direction the car is turning. This force is an expression of inertia, or, as stated in Newton’s First Law of Motion, a body at rest tends to remain at […]
The Physics of Racing Series
This is a series of articles written by Brian Beckman, PhD. Although written for the racer many of the articles can be adapted to EVOC training. The Physics of Racing, Part 1: Weight Transfer
Science of Speed: Tires and Pressure
NASCAR tires don’t have “air pressure” because they’re filled with nitrogen. The culprit responsible for increasing tire pressure during a race is friction. Using dry nitrogen gas helps the team predict how hot the tire will get and how much the pressure will “build” during a race. http://science360.gov/obj/video/11ac7bf2-11dd-4df2-8524-373accf09dbd/science-speed-tires-pressure