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Pinewood Derby: Difference between revisions
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Added a sentence about the increased use of oil as a lubricant in pinewood derby.
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(Added a sentence about the increased use of oil as a lubricant in pinewood derby.) |
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Another consideration is the track itself. A track that is mostly sloping, with little flat at the end, can allow cars with minimal mass in their wheels to shine. However, a track with a steep slope and then a long flat section can penalize such cars due to the quick loss of energy they experience once they have reached the bottom, when all potential energy has been transferred to kinetic and rotational energy. Such cars will take a lead on the downslope, but may be passed by cars with more energy "stored" away as rotational energy on the flat.<ref name=cowley/> | Another consideration is the track itself. A track that is mostly sloping, with little flat at the end, can allow cars with minimal mass in their wheels to shine. However, a track with a steep slope and then a long flat section can penalize such cars due to the quick loss of energy they experience once they have reached the bottom, when all potential energy has been transferred to kinetic and rotational energy. Such cars will take a lead on the downslope, but may be passed by cars with more energy "stored" away as rotational energy on the flat.<ref name=cowley/> | ||
A proper lubricant, typically [[graphite]] powder, is essential. [[Wheel alignment]] is important both to minimize wheel contact with the axle head and body as well as to limit the contact between the wheels and guide rail as the car travels down the track. There are 32 friction causing surfaces on a pinewood derby car. These include the surfaces of all four wheels which touch either the axle, the body or the track and the surfaces of all four axles which touch the wheel. Neglecting to polish and lubricate any of these 32 surfaces will result in degraded performance. The [[center of mass]] of a typical car is low and slightly ahead of the rear axle, which helps the car track straight as well as providing a slight advantage due to the additional gravitational potential energy.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.maximum-velocity.com/free-speed-tips/ |title= Five Keys to Pine Derby Performance |work= Maximum Velocity |accessdate= September 26, 2008}}</ref> | A proper lubricant, typically [[graphite]] powder, is essential. However, oil has been an increasingly popular lubrication option in recent years as it is typically cleaner and faster than graphite.<ref>[https://www.turboderby.com/post/pinewood-derby-car-lubrication "Pinewood Derby Car Lubrication"] Turbo Derby. Retrieved September 20, 2023</ref> [[Wheel alignment]] is important both to minimize wheel contact with the axle head and body as well as to limit the contact between the wheels and guide rail as the car travels down the track. There are 32 friction causing surfaces on a pinewood derby car. These include the surfaces of all four wheels which touch either the axle, the body or the track and the surfaces of all four axles which touch the wheel. Neglecting to polish and lubricate any of these 32 surfaces will result in degraded performance. The [[center of mass]] of a typical car is low and slightly ahead of the rear axle, which helps the car track straight as well as providing a slight advantage due to the additional gravitational potential energy.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.maximum-velocity.com/free-speed-tips/ |title= Five Keys to Pine Derby Performance |work= Maximum Velocity |accessdate= September 26, 2008}}</ref> | ||
== Event Planning == | == Event Planning == | ||