18
DRAGSTERS How do Top Fu el Dragsters Work
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 4.4secs at speeds exceeding 335mph
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 1/8th 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
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, CH3OH).
· Top Fuel dragsters and funny cars burn nitromethane (CH3NO2).
FUEL USE
DRAG RACING CLASSES
Top Fuel
Funny Cars
Pro Stock
Top Alcohol dragster
Top Alcohol Funny Car
Competition
Super Stock
Stock
Super Comp
Super Gas
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
