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The Physics of Nascar

Even though NASCAR started as adictates that turns on the racetrack
backwoods illegal race to run moonshine,must be banked in order to increase the
it has today evolved into a sport thatfriction (part of the centripetal force)
is not only entertaining but depends onto hold the car.
physics too. The obvious element in theAnother component of physics of NASCAR
physics of NASCAR is the aerodynamicthat serves to keep the vehicle with all
design required by these cars in orderfour wheels on the track during the race
to achieve top speeds of near 200 mphis center of gravity. Center of gravity
with the minimum drag coefficient. Butis basically the point where you could
there are other forces involved too suchbalance the car on the top of a flag
as Newton's Law of Motion andpole (theoretically). Racing vehicles
centripetal force.need low centers of gravity in order to
Newton's Law of Motion states that akeep the weight close to the track. If a
body will remain in motion unless it isvehicle has a high center of gravity
acted upon by some external force. Inthen it can lose control when it hits a
outer space for example, in the absenceturn much faster. Think of an ambulance
of gravity, an object will go onwith a high profile patient area. If the
forever. So there are forces that resistambulance took a turn too fast, it would
the movement of a NASCAR vehicle such astopple over. But if its profile was not
wind drag and another known astoo high, it could take the turn faster
centripetal force.because the center of gravity is lower.
Centripetal force should not be confusedAn ambulance needs the high profile in
with centrifugal force. However withoutorder to get patients in and treat them
getting too technical, you can think ofbut the physics of NASCAR dictate the
centripetal force as a real force actinglow center of gravity in order to apply
perpendicular to the motion of themore centripetal force and keep it
moving body. Centrifugal force on theattached to the track on a turn.
other hand is actually a fictitiousThen there is the machining of engine
force and what we feel as we are throwncomponents in the physics of NASCAR that
outward from a moving vehicle is theare important for building horsepower
reaction force.with the minimum of friction. You want
Centripetal force in the physics offriction when it comes to centripetal
NASCAR is crucial to keeping a car onforce but you don't want it inside of an
the track. The tires of the vehicleengine. This is why internal engine
provide the friction which is part ofparts are machined to within very
the centripetal force. The centripetalaccurate tolerances-much more accurately
force needed to keep the car on thethan automobiles for family and everyday
track cannot exceed the square of theuse. Why? It is because you want to
speed of the car. To put it in simpleminimize friction inside the engine.
terms, if the car takes a turn too fast,When engines torque at these speeds,
the wheels leave the ground and anfriction is a very dangerous enemy.
accident occurs. The physics of NASCAR



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