Fast Car Physics Book

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Chapter 1 Torque or Horsepower? Finding the Shift Points 1

1.1 Acceleration and Newton's Second Law 3

1.2 Velocity, Speed, Rotation, and Engine rpm 7

1.3 The Car, Horsepower, and Torque 9

1.4 Tire Markings 11

1.5 Calculations 12

1.6 First Gear, It's All Right. Second Gear... 13

1.7 Summary 16

Chapter 2 Horsepower, 0 to 60 mph, and the Quarter Mile 18

2.1 Horsepower 18

2.2 How Does Drag Force Affect Shift Points? 22

2.3 Gear Ratios 23

2.4 Calculating 0 to 60 mph Times 24

2.5 Assumptions and Results 28

2.6 What is the Limit for 0 to 60 mph? 29

2.7 Aerodynamic Drag 31

2.8 Correction Factors 33

2.9 The Quarter Mile 35

2.10 Flat Torque Curves 36

2.11 Top Fuel Dragsters 39

2.12 Summary 44

Chapter 3 Finding the Racing Line: Road Racing 45

3.1 The Traction Circle 48

3.2 Ninety Degree Right-Hand Turn 53

3.3 General Turn 59

3.4 Constructing a Track Model 59

3.5 Types of Turns 62

3.6 Type 1 Turn 64

3.7 Type 2 Turn 69

3.8 Type 3 Turn 71

3.9 Turning While Speeding Up 76

3.10 Summary 81

Chapter 4 Basic Vehicle Dynamics: Load Transfer and Tires 82

4.1 Center of Gravity 82

4.2 Longitudinal and Lateral Center of Gravity 83

4.3 Height of the Center of Gravity 85

4.4 Load Transfer and the Static Stability Factor 88

4.5 Tires and Forces 92

4.6 Tire Construction 93

4.7 Wheels 94

4.8 Tires under Static Load 95

4.9 Tires under Dynamic Load 103

4.10 Contact Patch Friction 105

4.11 Material Properties and Testing 109

4.12 Longitudinal Force and Longitudinal Slip 112

4.13 Lateral Force and the Slip Angle 115

4.14 Aligning Torque 118

4.15 Summary 120

Chapter 5 Steering and Suspension 123

5.1 More on Steering 123

5.2 Bicycle Model: Oversteer and Understeer 126

5.3 Wheel Alignment 130

5.4 Suspension Basics 136

5.5 Double A-arm or Wishbone Suspension 136

5.6 MacPherson Strut Suspension 143

5.7 NASCAR-Type Solid Rear Axle 144

5.8 Springs and Dampers 146

5.9 Shock Absorbers 160

5.10 Lateral Load Transfer: Advanced Approach 164

5.11 Correcting Handling Problems 171

5.12 Understeer Correction 172

5.13 Oversteer Correction 175

5.14 Summary 177

Chapter 6 Green Racing 179

6.1 What Is Green Racing? 181

6.2 Regenerative Braking 184

6.3 Mechanical Energy Storage: Flywheels 186

6.4 Electrical Energy Storage: Batteries 187

6.5 Electrical Energy Storage: Capacitors 191

6.6 What Type of Hybrid Is It? 194

6.7 Parallel Configuration Hybrid: Toyota Prius 194

6.8 All-Electric Vehicles 200

6.9 Fuel Cells 205

6.10 Alternative Fuels 207

6.11 Summary 218

Conclusion: Get Off the Streets and Go Racing! 220

Suggested Reading 223

Index 225