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Re: Drafting in Bicycle Races



I don't have the answer to these questions, but I am always happy to throw
some more noise into the situation. Remember the "coke bottle" shapes on
somemilitary supersonic jet aircraft? I believe that the Air Force B-58 and
F-104 had that shape as did the Navy F11F. I believe that it was done to
reduce skin friction at supersonic speeds, but I know nothing abut what the
principle was. They don't do it any more and I don't know what the
trade-off was that made them give it up.

Hugh

Who knows if this is the connection, but I recall a discussion which
indicated that the water resistance of a ship decreases with length. So
if the cars could be considered to be one object, then you might expect
the resistance to decrease.
just a thought...and I don't recall the argument for the decreased
resistance with length...anyone know?

joe

On Wed, 15 Sep 1999, Richard Tarara
wrote:

An additional comment--not an answer. From watching NASCAR racing and
listening to the commentary and observing the results, it would seem that
with the cars, that drafting helps BOTH cars. The situation is often thus:
Car A is in the lead by 20 car-lengths, Car B is second but is not gaining.
Then Car C comes up and drafts Car B and they both catch up to Car A.

I don't understand the physics of this either, but it must involve the
aerodynamics of the track and cars. It does seem that drafting is more
important at some tracks (longer, faster--maybe) than others.

Rick

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Richard W. Tarara
Department of Chemistry & Physics
Notre Dame, IN 46556
219-284-4664
rtarara@saintmarys.edu

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----- Original Message -----
From: Ed Schweber <edschweb@IX.NETCOM.COM>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 1999 4:54 AM
Subject: Drafting in Bicycle Races


Hi:

In bicycle races one rider will ride closely on the tail of the rider
in
front of him so that he will be riding in the "air resistance shadow" of
the
front rider.

I know of no reason based on basic physical laws of why this should
impose an extra burden on the front rider except that it seems to violate
my
sense that there should be no free lunch.

So my question is: Does the front rider in any way need a greater
power
output to maintain the same speed by virtue of having someone drafting
behind him?

I am looking forward to any responses.

Ed Schweber




********************************************************************************
Hugh Haskell

<mailto://haskell@odie.ncssm.edu>
<mailto://hhaskell@mindspring.com>

The box said "Requires Windows 95 or better." So I bought a Macintosh.
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