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