Aerodynamics

[Andrade]

So, in theory:

 

Assuming you have really good tyres and a really grippy track, why doesn't it make sense to have a heavy car so you have lots of traction when you set off, then having an upside down spoiler that lifts the car as speed increases and thus making it lighter. Also when braking for corners the weight will increase again and thus giving you more grip to go round the corner, and once you accelerate again the car becomes lighter once more.

[evil knievel]

You've overlooked the fact that speed is directly effected by acceleration, and plus when downforce takes effect it will make the car heavier.

 

Weight and drag reduce acceleration, with what your describing you'd probably never reach a high enough speed for the spoiler to take affect. If you did it would take so long the competitor would be halfway round the track!

[Andrade]

however it is also true that the better the traction the better the acceleration. an extremely light car, say one made totally of fibreglass, will have loads of wheelspin, so a bit of weight initially should help in that area.

 

with regards to drag & weight vs acceleration, if the weight decreases as the vehicle accelerates, one would say that the acceleration then becomes even more effective no? compared by standard aerodynamics that make the car heavier the faster it goes.

 

I know that this doesn't make sense but im just curious becasue i dont really know much about the subject

[caprinerd]

another factor is that weight will be a factor when throwing a car into a bend the car will work on an inertia system, light load thrown in to a bend will have less effect than a heavy load, which will cause under steer and body roll no mater how much grip you have going into a bend at speed (heavy weight) will cause the car to want to go straight, where as a car that has less weight will move into a bend at higher speed and go round the bend

also with weight in the car when pulling away the weight is transfered to the back of the car causing front end lift and rear end squat because the weight is transfered to the rear your then trying to tow the weight instead of just moving it with you

a good example of weight transfer is in drag racing rear wheel drive lift their wheels on pull off where as a front wheel drive will be spinning the front wheels as the weight is moved to the rear making the rear squat and losing traction on the front

for every +(poss) there has to be an equal -(neg) laws of physics (and karma lol)