Fast Car Physics

Revving engines, smoking tires, and high speeds. Car racing enthusiasts and race drivers alike know the thrill of competition, the push to perform better, and the agony -- and dangers -- of bad decisions. But driving faster and better involves more than just high horsepower and tightly tuned engines. Physicist and amateur racer Chuck Edmondson thoroughly discusses the physics underlying car racing and explains just what's going on during any race, why, and how a driver can improve control and ultimately win. The world of motorsports is rich with excitement and competition -- and physics. Edmondson applies common mathematical theories to real-world racing situations to reveal the secrets behind successful fast driving. He explains such key concepts as how to tune your car and why it matters, how to calculate 0 to 60 mph times and quarter-mile times and why they are important, and where, when, why, and how to use kinematics in road racing. He wraps it up with insight into the impact and benefit of green technologies in racing. In each case, Edmondson's in-depth explanations and worked equations link the physics principles to qualitative racing advice. From selecting shifting points to load transfer in car control and beyond, Fast Car Physics is the ideal source to consult before buckling up and cinching down the belts on your racing harness. - Publisher. Revving Engines, Smoking Tires, And High Speeds. Car Racing Enthusiasts And Race Drivers Alike Know The Thrill Of Competition, The Push To Perform Better, And The Agony, And Dangers, Of Bad Decisions. But Driving Faster And Better Involves More Than Just High Horsepower And Tightly Tuned Engines. The Author, A Physicist And Amateur Racer Discusses The Physics Underlying Car Racing And Explains Just What Is Going On During Any Race, Why, And How A Driver Can Improve Control And Ultimately Win. The World Of Motorsports Is Rich With Excitement And Competition And Physics. He Applies Common Mathematical Theories To Real World Racing Situations To Reveal The Secrets Behind Successful Fast Driving. He Explains Such Key Concepts As How To Tune Your Car And Why It Matters, How To Calculate 0 To 60 Mph Times And Quarter-mile Times And Why They Are Important, And Where, When, Why, And How To Use Kinematics In Road Racing. He Wraps It Up With Insight Into The Impact And Benefit Of Green Technologies In Racing. In Each Case, His In-depth Explanations And Worked Equations Link The Physics Principles To Qualitative Racing Advice. From Selecting Shifting Points To Load Transfer In Car Control And Beyond, This Book Is A Source To Consult Before Buckling Up And Cinching Down The Belts On Your Racing Harness. Torque Or Horsepower? : Finding The Shift Points. Acceleration And Newton's Second Law ; Velocity, Speed, Rotation, And Engine Rpm ; The Car, Horsepower, And Torque ; Tire Markings ; Calculations ; First Gear, It's Alright, Second Gear-- -- Horsepower, 0 To 60 Mph, And The Quarter Mile. Horsepower ; How Does Drag Force Affect Shift Points? ; Gear Ratios ; Calculating 0 To 60 Mph Times ; Assumptions And Results ; What Is The Limit For 0 To 60 Mph? Aerodynamic Drag ; Correction Factors ; The Quarter Mile ; Flat Torque Curves ; Top Fuel Dragsters ; -- Finding The Race Line : Road Racing. The Traction Circle ; Ninety Degree Right-hand Turn ; General Turn ; Constructing A Track Model ; Types Of Turns ; Type 1 Turn ; Type 2 Turn ; Type 3 Turn ; Turning While Speeding Up ; -- Basic Vehicle Dynamics : Load Transfer And Tires. Center Of Gravity ; Longitudinal And Lateral Center Of Gravity ; Height Of The Center Of Gravity ; Load Transfer And The Static Stability Factor ; Tires And Forces ; Tire Construction ; Wheels ; Tires Under Static Load ; Tires Under Dynamic Load ; Contact Patch Friction ; Material Properties And Testing ; Longitudinal Force And Longitudinal Slip ; Lateral Force And The Slip Angle ; Aligning Torque ; -- Steering And Suspension. More On Steering ; Bicycle Model : Oversteer And Understeer ; Wheel Alignment ; Suspension Basics ; Double A-arm Or Wishbone Suspension ; Macpherson Strut Suspension ; Nascar-type Solid Rear Axle ; Springs And Dampers ; Shock Absorbers ; Lateral Load Transfer : Advanced Approach ; Correcting Handling Problems ; Understeer Correction ; Oversteer Correction ; -- Green Racing. What Is Green Racing? ; Regenerative Braking ; Mechanical Energy Storage : Flywheels ; Electrical Energy Storage : Batteries ; Electrical Energy Storage Capacitors ; What Type Of Hybrid Is It? ; Parallel Configuration Hybrid : Toyota Prius ; All-electric Vehicles ; Fuel Cells ; Alternative Fuels ; -- Get Off The Streets And Go Racing! Chuck Edmondson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [223]-224) And Index. PrefaceAcknowledgments1. Torque or Horsepower? Finding the Shift Points1.1. Acceleration and Newton's Second Law1.2. Velocity, Speed, Rotation, and Engine rpm1.3. The Car, Horsepower, and Torque1.4. Tire Markings1.5. Calculations1.6. First Gear, It's All Right. Second Gear...1.7. Summary2. Horsepower, 0 to 60 mph, and the Quarter Mile2.1. Horsepower2.2. How Does Drag Force Affect Shift Points?2.3. Gear Ratios2.4. Calculating 0 to 60 mph Times2.5. Assumptions and Results2.6. What Is the Limit for 0 to 60 mph?2.7. Aerodynamic Drag2.8. Correction Factors2.9. The Quarter Mile2.10. Flat Torque Curves2.11. Top Fuel Dragsters2.12. Summary3. Finding the Racing Line: Road Racing3.1. The Traction Circle3.2. Ninety Degree Right-Hand Turn3.3. General Turn3.4. Constructing a Track Model3.5. Types of Turns3.6. Type 1 Turn3.7. Type 2 Turn3.8. Type 3 Turn3.9. Turning While Speeding Up3.10. Summary4. Basic Vehicle Dynamics: Load Transfer and Tires4.1. Center of Gravity4.2. Longitudinal and Lateral Center of Gravity4.3. Height of the Center of Gravity4.4. Load Transfer and the Static Stability Factor4.5. Tires and Forces4.6. Tire Construction4.7. Wheels4.8. Tires under Static Load4.9. Tires under Dynamic Load4.10. Contact Patch Friction4.11. Material Properties and Testing4.12. Longitudinal Force and Longitudinal Slip4.13. Lateral Force and the Slip Angle4.14. Aligning Torque4.15. Summary5. Steering and Suspension5.1. More on Steering5.2. Bicycle Model: Oversteer and Understeer5.3. Wheel Alignment5.4. Suspension Basics5.5. Double A-arm or Wishbone Suspension5.6. MacPherson Strut Suspension5.7. NASCAR-Type Solid Rear Axle5.8. Springs and Dampers5.9. Shock Absorbers5.10. Lateral Load Transfer: Advanced Approach5.11. Correcting Handling Problems5.12. Understeer Correction5.13. Oversteer Correction5.14. Summary6. Green Racing6.1. What Is Green Racing?6.2. Regenerative Braking6.3. Mechanical Energy Storage: Flywheels6.4. Mechanical Energy Storage: Batteries6.5. Mechanical Energy Storage: Capacitors6.6. What Type of Hybrid Is It?6.7. Parallel Configuration Hybrid: Toyota Prius6.8. All-Electric Vehicles6.9. Fuel Cells6.10. Alternative Fuels6.11. SummaryConclusionGet Off the Streets and Go Racing!Suggested ReadingIndex

Revving engines, smoking tires, and high speeds. Car racing enthusiasts and race drivers alike know the thrill of competition, the push to perform better, and the agony—and dangers—of bad decisions. But driving faster and better involves more than just high horsepower and tightly tuned engines. Physicist and amateur racer Chuck Edmondson thoroughly discusses the physics underlying car racing and explains just what’s going on during any race, why, and how a driver can improve control and ultimately win.

The world of motorsports is rich with excitement and competition—and physics. Edmondson applies common mathematical theories to real-world racing situations to reveal the secrets behind successful fast driving. He explains such key concepts as how to tune your car and why it matters, how to calculate 0 to 60 mph times and quarter-mile times and why they are important, and where, when, why, and how to use kinematics in road racing. He wraps it up with insight into the impact and benefit of green technologies in racing. In each case, Edmondson’s in-depth explanations and worked equations link the physics principles to qualitative racing advice.

From selecting shifting points to load transfer in car control and beyond, Fast Car Physics is the ideal source to consult before buckling up and cinching down the belts on your racing harness.

Revving engines, smoking tires, and high speeds. Car racing enthusiasts and race drivers alike know the thrill of competition, the push to perform better, and the agony-and dangers-of bad decisions. But driving faster and better involves more than just high horsepower and tightly tuned engines. Physicist and amateur racer Chuck Edmondson thoroughly discusses the physics underlying car racing and explains just what’s going on during any race, why, and how a driver can improve control and ultimately win.

The world of motorsports is rich with excitement and competition-and physics. Edmondson applies common mathematical theories to real-world racing situations to reveal the secrets behind successful fast driving. He explains such key concepts as how to tune your car and why it matters, how to calculate 0 to 60 mph times and quarter-mile times and why they are important, and where, when, why, and how to use kinematics in road racing. He wraps it up with insight into the impact and benefit of green technologies in racing. In each case, Edmondson’s in-depth explanations and worked equations link the physics principles to qualitative racing advice.

From selecting shifting points to load transfer in car control and beyond, Fast Car Physics is the ideal source to consult before buckling up and cinching down the belts on your racing harness.