The physics IN, ON, and AROUND the racing automobile.

Title     Center of Gravity      Torque & Friction     Drag     Circular motion      Glossary     References

Kenai Halvorson
Physics 211x
November 24th 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Campus Photography © 2004
Permission received from Rob Hawkins

 

 

    Hi, my name is Kenai and my family and I race cars as a hobby. While our cars are stock and we don't put much thought into what application physics has to our pastime there are many professional racecar drivers and companies that do.

     Almost everything about a racecar has elements of physics.

     A car's engine creates energy which is transformed into torque, which rotates the tires, which causes acceleration which in turn creates motion, when the car is in motion it has velocity. To maximize the efficiency of the vehicle; fuel, acceleration etcetera we need to reduce the drag forces on it.

     Once a vehicle is in motion it is subject to Newton's First Law "A body continues in a state of uniform motion in a straight line, unless a force acts upon it." (Parker) A race car moves in a perpetual circle and to keep it from going in a straight line off the track there needs to be sufficient frictional forces against this motion. Some call these forces centrifugal, however this is more accurately described as centripetal. 

     I hope to enlighten and entertain you with this site so enjoy.