1. Quantum Racing and The Physics of Racing 42 BGSU Society of Physics Students [ [ Department of Physics and Astronomy Bowling Green State University

2. Outline Grand Prix of BGSU Quantum Racing –Why? –2005 Team –Kart Construction Testing Race Day Physics of Racing –Center of Mass/Weight Shift –Tires –Steering –Corners –Engine –Gears

3. Kart race –Bring motorsports to BGSU Campus –Promote clean Energy (E85) Grand Prix of BGSU

4. Why should SPS go racing? Real life application of Physics –Hands on experience –Brings the physics to life HAVE FUN WITH PHYSICS!!

5. Quantum Racing Team Crew Chief Matt Hodek Driver Jen Bradley Crew Members Ryan Henderson Billy Schmidt Scorer Ryan Loreck Track Worker Ian Nemitz

6. Kart Construction Purchased a base racing chassis

7. Build a safety cage Kart Construction

8. Engine and Clutch Kart Construction

9. Kart Testing Several Driver training and kart testing sessions. –Improve driver skill and familiarity with kart –Adjust kart to provide best kart for the driver.

10. Data Acquisition Alfano –Records: RPM Head Temp Wheel Speed G-force Lap times –10 hz ~90 min –24-40 hrs (lap only)

14. The Physics of Racing An Introduction

15. How the kart moves What makes it move

16. COM and Weight Shift COM (Center of Mass) –Very important Where it is How to change it Weight Shift –Effects handling of car (de)acceleration Cornering Accelerating Grip De-accelerating

17. Tires! FRICTION!! Traction Circle –Limited traction available Slip Angle Relies heavily on weight transfer Accel brake left right Right Front Tire

18. Steering Caster forward Kingpin Inclination Scrub Radius Turn Raise lower Lifted off the ground COM Shift

19. Steering

20. Turn Raise lower Lifted off the ground Ackerman Steering

21. Chassis setup and Tires Determines how the weight is transferred to each wheel under different conditions Understeer Oversteer Front Grip Rear Grip Front Grip Rear Grip More grip: Decrease tire pressure Stiffen Chassis sections Move weight towards wheel Less grip: Increase tire pressure Flexable Chassis sections Move weight away from wheel

22. Corners Goals: widest arc possible Keep speed up Retain as much momentum as possible Outside - worst Inside - better Apex - Best

23. Corners

24. How the kart moves What makes it move

25. Engine Fluid Mechanics –Air flow –Volumetric efficiency Mechanical Engineering –Converting combustion Into mechanical force Thermodynamics –Compression –Combustion

26. Gears Higher Ratio more torque less top end speed Lower Ratio less torque more top end speed 32 teeth 16 teeth 2:1 gear ratio

27. On going Studies The Advanced Physics of Racing

28. Topics of Study Thermodynamic model of the engine Air cycle Fuel-air cycle Air capacity Ambient conditions Dynamical model of the Chassis Chassis flex Harmonic Oscillation

29. Measured Hp/torque curves Comparison to Experimental data Smoothing Data Clutch issue

30. Simple Air Cycle Model Assumptions –Air is an ideal gas, fuel is not part of the charge –Each cycle draws full charge regardless of rpm –The combustion is complete

33. Fuel-Air Cycle “An idealized process using as its working medium real gasses that closely resembling those used in the corresponding engine.“ Not a ‘thermodynamic cycle’ Assumptions –No chemical change before or after combustion –After combustion, the charge is in chemical equilibrium –All processes are adiabatic –Velocities of the charge are negligable

34. Thank You Any Questions? Sources Taylor, Charles F. The Internal-Combustion Engine in Theory and Practice. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The M.I.T. P, 1985. Beckman, Brian. "The Physics of Racing." SCCA CalClub Newsletter. Quantum Racing 42