| Even though NASCAR started as a | | | | dictates 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 that | | | | friction (part of the centripetal force) |
| is not only entertaining but depends on | | | | to hold the car. |
| physics too. The obvious element in the | | | | Another component of physics of NASCAR |
| physics of NASCAR is the aerodynamic | | | | that serves to keep the vehicle with all |
| design required by these cars in order | | | | four wheels on the track during the race |
| to achieve top speeds of near 200 mph | | | | is center of gravity. Center of gravity |
| with the minimum drag coefficient. But | | | | is basically the point where you could |
| there are other forces involved too such | | | | balance the car on the top of a flag |
| as Newton's Law of Motion and | | | | pole (theoretically). Racing vehicles |
| centripetal force. | | | | need low centers of gravity in order to |
| Newton's Law of Motion states that a | | | | keep the weight close to the track. If a |
| body will remain in motion unless it is | | | | vehicle has a high center of gravity |
| acted upon by some external force. In | | | | then it can lose control when it hits a |
| outer space for example, in the absence | | | | turn much faster. Think of an ambulance |
| of gravity, an object will go on | | | | with a high profile patient area. If the |
| forever. So there are forces that resist | | | | ambulance took a turn too fast, it would |
| the movement of a NASCAR vehicle such as | | | | topple over. But if its profile was not |
| wind drag and another known as | | | | too high, it could take the turn faster |
| centripetal force. | | | | because the center of gravity is lower. |
| Centripetal force should not be confused | | | | An ambulance needs the high profile in |
| with centrifugal force. However without | | | | order to get patients in and treat them |
| getting too technical, you can think of | | | | but the physics of NASCAR dictate the |
| centripetal force as a real force acting | | | | low center of gravity in order to apply |
| perpendicular to the motion of the | | | | more centripetal force and keep it |
| moving body. Centrifugal force on the | | | | attached to the track on a turn. |
| other hand is actually a fictitious | | | | Then there is the machining of engine |
| force and what we feel as we are thrown | | | | components in the physics of NASCAR that |
| outward from a moving vehicle is the | | | | are important for building horsepower |
| reaction force. | | | | with the minimum of friction. You want |
| Centripetal force in the physics of | | | | friction when it comes to centripetal |
| NASCAR is crucial to keeping a car on | | | | force but you don't want it inside of an |
| the track. The tires of the vehicle | | | | engine. This is why internal engine |
| provide the friction which is part of | | | | parts are machined to within very |
| the centripetal force. The centripetal | | | | accurate tolerances-much more accurately |
| force needed to keep the car on the | | | | than automobiles for family and everyday |
| track cannot exceed the square of the | | | | use. Why? It is because you want to |
| speed of the car. To put it in simple | | | | minimize 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 an | | | | friction is a very dangerous enemy. |
| accident occurs. The physics of NASCAR | | | | |