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Re: [Phys-l] Pinewood Derby Car Weight....




I can imagine one other reason to put the weights at the back.

As the car rolls down the ramp going not exactly straight, it will be the front wheels that will hit the center divider and need to get re-directed. The back wheels will follow along but rarely make any contact with the center. The more weight on the front wheels, the harder they will hit and the more they will rub. They will also take a greater force to re-aim them back toward the center. All of these "drain" energy from the car. If the front is made as light as possible, all of these factors will minimized!

Tim