Karen Latchana Kenney - The Science of Car Racing (The Science of Speed)

Velocity is published by Capstone Press,1710 Roe Crest Drive, North Mankato, Minnesota 56003.www.capstonepub.com

Copyright 2014 by Capstone Press, a Capstone imprint. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Capstone Press, 1710 Roe Crest Drive, North Mankato, Minnesota 56003.

Librar y of Congr ess C ataloging-in-P ublication D ata Kenney, Karen Latchana, author.The science of car racing / by Karen Latchana Kenney.pages cm.(Velocitythe science of speed)Summary: Describes the science concepts involved in several types of car racing Provided by publisher.Audience: Ages 1014.Audience: Grades 4 to 6.ISBN 978-1-4765-3910-2 (library binding)ISBN 978-1-4765-5193-7 (pbk.)ISBN 978-1-4765-6058-8 (ebook PDF)ISBN 978-1-4914-2936-5 (ebook)1. Automobile racingJuvenile literature. 2. Automobiles, RacingDesign andconstructionJuvenile literature. I. Title. II. Series: Velocity (Capstone Press)GV1029.13.K46 2014796.72dc232013026811

E ditorial C r edits Adrian Vigliano, editor; Kyle Grenz, designer; Laura Manthe, production specialist

P hoto C r edits Dreamstime: Lawrence Weslowski Jr, 21, Walter Arce, cover, Zepherwind, 16-17; Getty Images for NASCAR: Jason Smith, 11 (top), Todd Warshaw, 27 (top); Getty Images: AFP/Josep Lago, 18-19 (top), AFP/Tom Gandolfini, 30-31, Archive Photos/Robert Alexander, 29 (inset), BillPugliano, 14-15, Patrick Smith, 34, Tom Pennington, 44-45; Newscom/Cal Sport Media/Walter G Arce, 28-29, Icon SMI/Brain Cleary, 23, Icon SMI/Kyle Ocker, 12-13, Icon SMI/Marc Sanchez, 33, Octane Photographic Ltd/Leanne Wilson, 43; Shutterstock: 333DIGIT,10 (top), Action Sports Photography, 4-5, 6, 10-11, 24-25, 26, 27 (bottom), 32, 36-37 (bottom),42, Beelde Photography, 8 (top), 13 (top), 36-37 (top), 40-41, David Huntley Creative, 35,EvrenKalinbacak, 38, 39, fotographic1980, (background, throughout), Max Earey, 45 (inset),Mikhail Kolesnikov, 9, Natursports, 8 (bottom), Phillip Rubino, 16 (left), Sandra R. Barba, 20,Studio 1a Photography, 18-19 (bottom)

The loud roar of a race car is hard to ignore. Part of that sound comes from the exhaust. Most race cars dont have mufflers, which is the part that makes regular passenger cars quieter. Thats because mufflers slow down cars by creating p re s s u re on theengine. Without a muffler, the full sound of an engine escapes in waves. This makes air molecules move and bounce against one another. When the sound hits the fans ears, it is really loud!

Wings extend above the rear of many race cars, such as stock cars and Indy cars. Some race cars also have a front wing. The flat part of a wing adjusts to different angles. Low angles produce less drag but also less downforce. High angles create more drag but also more downforce. Crews adjust the wings to fit what the cars need for the track.