ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH THE PHYSICS OF MOTORSPORTS

Outline• Introduction

– What is Quantum Racing?– Teaching physics through

racing

• Physics of Racing– 1-D motion– 2-D motion– experiments

• Classroom Activities– Turn Radius– Gear Ratio– Rolling Friction

• Part of the Society of Physics Student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

• Formed to participate in the Grand Prix of BGSU (2nd annual held April 14th, 2007)

Viewed as an exciting way to learn physics in many different capacities.

What can racing bring to physics?Racing can be an effective and exciting tool

in physics education.

A Champ Car produces enough downforce at race speeds that it could drive upside down on the ceiling.

A Top Fuel Dragster accelerates from 0-335 mph in under 4.4 seconds pulling almost 5 g’s.

The Physics of Racing• Kinematics

– Position/velocity/acceleration relations

– F=ma– 1-D/2-D motion– Rotational motion– Torque– Energy/work– Conservation of energy– Collisions– Linear/Angular

Momentum– Elasticity– Fluids/pressure

• Thermodynamics– Ideal gas law– P-V diagrams– Entropy

• Structural Mechanics– Beam flexure– Center of Mass– Weight Transfer

Undergraduate Research

• Two Parts– Day to day working

involved with the kart

– Individual Projects

The Physics of Racing

“The turn right before the longest straight is the most important”

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

WHY?

1-D motion[straights]

• Theory:

• Application:Being slightly faster into a straight will end in a

larger advantage at the end.

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

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BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

What does that mean on the track?

The time difference for between a car entering at 28 vs 30 mph is:

0.1182 s for 73 feet

0.06 s for 40 feet

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

That means a 5.89 foot advantage for the 73 foot straight

-about a kart length

and a 3.06 foot advantage for the 40 foot straight

-about half a kart length

What is the fastest way to get through a corner?

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

2-D motion[corners]

• Theory:

• Application:Taking the line with the largest radius, will be the fastest

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

r

vac

2

cmaF Nf FF

m

Frv N

Racing Lines

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

• Racing lines refers to the variations of paths that a driver can take through a corner.

Variations in speed…

Obviously the different lines have a difference in radii, and therefore allowed speeds for a given setup.

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

Corner : 75 ft radius at centerline 30 foot track width

Line Radii/max velocity (1.1g turn):

effective red line – 63 feet/32.16 mph

effective green line – 87 feet/37.79 mph

effective blue line – 145 feet/48.78 mphCalculations taken from Brian Beckman’s “Physics of Racing”

…lead to a variation in time• The allowed speed leads directly to fastest

times for the different lines.

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

Calculations taken from Brian Beckman’s “Physics of Racing”

…track width is also a factor• The track width effects the allowed

velocities…

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

Calculations taken from Brian Beckman’s “Physics of Racing”

Calculations are great…

…but what about the real world?

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

Data Acquisition

(DAQ)• Alfano

– Records:RPM

Head Temp

Wheel Speed

G-force

Lap times

– 10 hz ~90 min

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

1-D experiment• Measure both starting and ending velocities as

well as the acceleration and distance.

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

IR beacon #2 IR beacon #1

Known distance

-show relationship and measure μs

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

velocity

30

35

40

45

50

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

seconds

ft/s

ec

acceleration

-1

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0

0.2

0.4

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

seconds

ft/s

ec^

2

2-D experiment• Measure known radius, acceleration, and speed

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

r

-show relationship and measure μc