Trailer
A little idea what the Science of Speed series is all about.
Videos
The Science of Speed Videos
Videos are provided in the QuickTime (.mov) format.
Drag and Drafting
Why is Brian Vickers happy when someone bumps into his car going 190 mph down the frontstretch at Daytona?
Keywords: Momentum transfer; aerodynamic forces; net force
Grip
What keeps a car on the track and out of the wall? Grip.
Keywords: friction, forces, load transfer
Friction and Heat
You cannot have friction without also having heat. Sometimes friction is good, but sometimes the heat becomes a problem.
Keywords: friction, heat, energy, transformation of energy
Tire Pressure
As a tire gets heated up by friction with the track, it's pressure also increases.
Keywords: friction, heat, pressure, ideal gas law
Turning
Go fast, turn left, don't crash -- how hard can that be? Plenty.
Keywords: friction, centripetal force, centripetal acceleration
Car Safety
Cars are built not only to go fast, but also to protect the driver in case of any sudden stops - or collisions with walls
Keywords:Impulse; force; momentum; time; SAFER barriers
Relates to: Building Better Barriers module; Energy and Safety module
Momentum and Time
Drivers love going fast, but when it comes to stopping, they like doing that as slowly as possible.
Keywords:Impulse; force; momentum; time; SAFER barriers
Relates to: Builing Better Barriers module; Energy and Safety module
Firesuits
What the best dressed NASCAR drivers wear to the racetrack - they're more than just a background for their sponsors.
Keywords: heat; energy; heat transfer
Power
What generates the equivalent power to a bag of MM&M every second? A NASCAR engine. But the engine is a lot louder.
Keywords: power, energy, engines
Relates to: Sound module, Comparing Engines
Load Transfer
When a car accelerates, brakes or turns, the amount of force on each tire changes.
Keywords: forces, torques, weight
Additional Modules
Coming Soon
