Post by ichiban on May 12, 2008 13:05:49 GMT -6
Trying to isolate where having a different distance between the COM and the rear wheels would have an influence knowing the COM has not changed.
Take two identical BSA cars except, one has the standard wheel base length and location. The COM for this car has been set at 3/4" in front of the rear axle. The other car's COM is at the same location, only its rear axle is 1" back. NOTE: The COM has not moved because we compensated for the weight displacement of moving the rear axle back.
Sitting at the starting gate, the COM is the same height from the floor and distance from the starting peg for both cars. Both cars should have the same potential energy, but I see two areas where there's a difference, aerodynamics and handling.
I don't know if one car would have an aerodynamic advantage as both cars would cast the same shadow on the wall from the front and rear. So the only influence I see is in handling as the car with the shorter wheel base will want to turn slightly more than the car with the longer wheel base.
Take two identical BSA cars except, one has the standard wheel base length and location. The COM for this car has been set at 3/4" in front of the rear axle. The other car's COM is at the same location, only its rear axle is 1" back. NOTE: The COM has not moved because we compensated for the weight displacement of moving the rear axle back.
Sitting at the starting gate, the COM is the same height from the floor and distance from the starting peg for both cars. Both cars should have the same potential energy, but I see two areas where there's a difference, aerodynamics and handling.
I don't know if one car would have an aerodynamic advantage as both cars would cast the same shadow on the wall from the front and rear. So the only influence I see is in handling as the car with the shorter wheel base will want to turn slightly more than the car with the longer wheel base.