DRAGSTERS How do Top Fuel Dragsters Work DRAGSTER

DRAGSTERS How do Top Fuel Dragsters Work

DRAGSTER FACTS Top Fuel Dragsters are the fastest accelerating vehicles in the world The cars can cover the quarter mile in 4. 4 secs at speeds exceeding 335 mph The engine of choice is an aluminum version of the Chrysler Hemi, which produces an estimated 7, 000 – 8, 000 horsepower

View this video clip on aerodynamics and car design

View this video clip on tire design

DRAG RACING Two cars over 1/8 th to ¼ of a mile The cars activate a timer They are judged on elapsed time ET Cars reaches a speed of about 325 mph

ENGINEERING PRINCIPLE NO. 1: MASS Dragster cars are a great deal lighter than barbells, but they still have weight; what scientifically we call Mass. The Balancing Act: Advantages: Cars with less mass go much faster. Disadvantages: Cars with less mass are less stable and less durable.

ENGINEERING PRINCIPLE NO. 2: DRAG Drag: the resistance of wind moving over an object. So how do you overcome drag? Start by making the body as aerodynamically "clean" as possible. Think of vehicles designed for high speed such as rockets and jet fighters and go from there.

ENGINEERING PRINCIPLE NO. 3: FRICTION Everything has friction. On a DRAGSTER car, friction occurs primarily in two places: between the wheels and the ground, between the axles and the car body. The Balancing Act:

Drag Racing

FUEL USE It depends on the type of race car you are talking about. For example: ·NASCAR engines burn 110 octane leaded gasoline. ·Indy cars burn pure methanol (a. k. a. wood alcohol, CH 3 OH). ·Top Fuel dragsters and funny cars burn nitromethane (CH 3 NO 2).

DRAG RACING CLASSES Top Fuel Funny Cars Pro Stock Top Alcohol dragster Top Alcohol Funny Car Competition

Super Stock Super Comp Super Gas Stock Super Street

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS Seat belts and roll bar or cage Helmets and neck collars Protective clothing 4 wheel hydraulic breaks

JUNIOR DRAG RACING http: //speedomaniacs. com/index. asp http: //www. nhra. com/ Official site of the National Hot Rod Association

COMPARING RACE CAR DESIGNS How do you think the design requirements of a Pike’s Peek race vehicle with those of a Dragster are different Discuss this for 1 minute with a student sitting beside you

PIKES PEEK Click the title to see the movie clip