ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH THE PHYSICS OF MOTORSPORTS.
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Transcript of ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH THE PHYSICS OF MOTORSPORTS.
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
xavv o 222
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