The Three D's of Speed

The science of aerodynamics studies

• How fast a  car or plane can go
• The movement of air
• How objects can  change the air
• The weight of objects

What are the three key aerodynamics principles.

• Drag, distance, downforce
• Drafting, distance, drag
• Drag, downforce, dynamics
• Drag, downforce, drafting

Drag occurs when

• Air pushes against an object
• Air enters an object
• Air avoids an object
• None of the above

Downforce is created when

• Fast moving air moves above an object and slow-moving moves below it. 
• Low-pressure air moves above an object and high pressure air moves below it.
• High-pressure air moves above an object and low pressure air moves below it.
• None of these

Fast-moving air creates high pressure

• True
• False

When two cars draft, the area of low pressure behind the first car sucks the second car forward causing it to move even faster.

• True
• False

Drafting is causes by aerodynamics adaptations to racecars. 

• True
• False

The flaps on racecars that create drag:

• Helps the cars move faster
• Slows the cars down to better control their speed
• Helps cars increase speed during drafting
• All of the above

Downforce is important to NASCAR racecars because:

• It helps the cars move faster
• It makes it safer to speed around turns
• It helps cars "stick" to the track
• All of the above

In the world of NASCAR racing, aerodynamics, engineers:

• create car adaptations that helps improve the  safety of speed
• Design helmets that help the drivers focus better when driving
• Invent  car adaptation that make the cars heavier and safer
• Develop adaptations that enhance the communication between the car and driver