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Re: [Phys-l] racing

Race cars also have front spoilers to increase the down force resulting in greater "available" static friction. Most (all?) racing authorities (ICAR, NHRA, NASCAR) have ground clearance minimum values which in effect limit the down force which results in keeping the speeds down (i.e., if they don't want to move to a kinetic friction regime with the road).

Cars flip in NASCAR and ICAR and formula racing because something lifts the front end or spins them around. Getting bumped or hitting the wall can give them enough bottom airflow to make them lose static friction and possibly fly. I would be surprised if random air currents would cause anything, but "dirty" vs "clean" air due to other cars definitely affects the available friction and down force. Suspension response time and inflation pressure can also have an effect on how the car behaves when going from curve to straight, vice-versa, and foing in and out of traffic.

I didn't see the Las Vegas crash, but the Carl Edwards wreck last year was quite spectacular. I'm surprised he walked away. John Force has been involved in a few NHRA funny car crashes. They usually happen when the car swerves or there is engine or tire failure.

-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-
bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Anthony Lapinski
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 1:16 PM
To: phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
Subject: [Phys-l] racing

I'm teaching about friction now and a discussion came up about race
cars.
I mentioned that these cars usually have a spoiler on the back end so
that
air pushes down on the fast car, which increases the apparent weight,
which increases the frictional force. This is good as it makes the car
accelerate more on straight track and more stable on turns

Kids mentioned that race cars can "flip over" if they go too fast. My
question is how does a race car flip over going fast on a long stretch
of
straight track.? Ignoring the spoiler, aren't these cars designed so
that
they will grip the road better due to the aerodynamics? Or do most cars
become airborne due to interactions with other cars or air currents on
the
track?

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