ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH THE PHYSICS OF MOTORSPORTS.

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ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH THE PHYSICS OF MOTORSPORTS

Transcript of ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH THE PHYSICS OF MOTORSPORTS.

Page 1: ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH THE PHYSICS OF MOTORSPORTS.

ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH THE PHYSICS OF MOTORSPORTS

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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

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• 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.

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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.

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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

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Undergraduate Research

• Two Parts– Day to day working

involved with the kart

– Individual Projects

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The Physics of Racing

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

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

WHY?

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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

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BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

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BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

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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

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What is the fastest way to get through a corner?

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

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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

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Racing Lines

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

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

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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”

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…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”

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…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”

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Calculations are great…

…but what about the real world?

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

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Data Acquisition

(DAQ)• Alfano

– Records:RPM

Head Temp

Wheel Speed

G-force

Lap times

– 10 hz ~90 min

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

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BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

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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

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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

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

BGSU Physics and Astronomy Quantum Racing

r

-show relationship and measure μc

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