Is it better to have more weight in front or back of pinewood derby?
PUT MOST OF THE WEIGHT IN THE BACK Science says the heaviest part of your car should be about 1 inch in front of the rear axle. The idea is that the farther back the weight is, the more potential energy you have because your center of mass is higher up on the track.
Does a longer wheelbase make a pinewood derby car faster?
The longer the wheel base, the greater the turning distance (a short car turns much more quickly than a long car). A pinewood derby car should go as straight as possible, so a longer wheel base is an advantage.
Where is the best place to put weight on a pinewood derby car?
Best Location to Weight Your Pinewood Derby Car When deciding on where to weight your car, you should try to reach a final balance point of the car 1 inch or less in front of the rear axle. To achieve this, place 2/5 of the added weight behind the rear axle, and the remaining 3/5 in front of the rear axle.
What is the perfect weight for a pinewood derby car?
The more your pine car weighs, the faster it will go on a downhill ramp. Most rules specify a 5 oz. maximum weight. Most Pinewood Derby cars weigh between 1.5 oz and 3.5 oz (depending on design) without weights so a car may need 3.5 oz or more of additional weight.
What is a good Pinewood Derby time?
Pinewood Derby Results. The average times with just weight added was 3.288 seconds. There was 0.188 seconds between the fastest and slowest car, about 23 inches. The average time was 2.994 seconds, about 44 inches faster than without graphite (0.353 seconds).
Can a Pinewood Derby car be too heavy?
Assuming all other factors are equal, a heavier car will be faster than a lighter car. The Pinewood Derby rules limit the weight of each car to 5 ounces.
How close should wheels be on Pinewood Derby car?
The wheel base (distance from front axle to the rear axle) may not be altered. The cut slots must be used for the axles and the wheel base distance must be 4-1/4 to 4 3/8 inches.
Should you sand Pinewood Derby wheels?
The hub can be coned using a lathe, a rotary tool or drill press with a grinder bit, or a special hub tool for pinewood derby wheels. When the plastic has been removed, the hub surface should be sanded first with #220 and then #400 sandpaper and buffed with a plastic polish.
Can a Pinewood Derby car be shorter than 7 inches?
Length and Wheelbase of Pinewood Derby Cars. The length of your Pinewood Derby car is very simple to choose. The rules state a maximum 7-inch length. You want the car to be that long, minus just a little bit (say 1/16″) to allow for judging and measurement slop.
How do you win pinewood derby secrets?
Bake your block. Max out your weight at the regulation 5 ounces. Use all of the graphite. Sand and polish your wheels and axles. Check alignment. Spend time sanding. Use a high-quality paint. Add decals.
What pinewood derby car design is fastest?
The Black PRO Car is our fastest pinewood derby car. It pushes the Speed Limit! It is track-tested car ready to race featuring our race winning PRO friction-free BSA Ultra-Lite graphite-coated wheels and PRO BSA graphite-coated grooved axles.
Should I bake my pinewood derby block?
Should I bake the pinewood derby block? The short answer is no, do not bake the block. The idea behind baking the block is to remove moisture which will make the block lighter. You can then add more weight to the back of the car.
Does a heavier pinewood derby car go faster?
Much has been written about the physics of pinewood derby cars, and this is one rare case in racing where heavy = fast. Aerodynamics have little effect in such a short race, but weight does and putting the weight at the back of the car will make your car faster on the flat of the track.
What makes a fast pinewood derby car?
One of the most important ways to make a fast pinewood derby car is by adding weights. Because the cars are relatively light, they need to overcome friction and air resistance when navigating down the racetrack. Most modern tracks feature an initial slope followed by a long, flat section.
Can a Pinewood Derby car have 3 wheels?
You may sand the wheels to remove the seam or other imperfections on the surface, but the profile may not be changed (i.e. you can’t make the wheel width thinner). c. Cars can run with 3 wheels touching the track, but the 4th must be installed.
Where do you drill the axle on a Pinewood Derby car?
Drilling holes for an extended wheelbase Slide the PRO Driller over the end of the block where the axle slot is furthest away (1 3/8″) from the edge of the block. Position the driller so the holes will be the exact distance from the edge of the block (7/8″) as the holes on the other side.
How much should a Pinewood Derby car weight before paint?
Adding weight. The bottom of a wedge body with holes drilled for weights. Before painting the block, you will want to add enough weight to bring the block, wheels, axles, and any accessories to about 4.9 ounces.
Should I glue Pinewood Derby axles?
7. Create Glue Holes: Glue the axles firmly in their holes to ensure that they stay perfectly placed, but make sure you don’t get glue on your wheels. 8. Add Weight: Remember to make your Pinewood Derby car as heavy as the rules allow.
Do heavier cars corner better?
In theory, a lighter car may handle corners better than a heavy car on a wet roads, as it has less inertia to continue in a straight line, however its lighter weight, there is less friction or adhesion to the road.
Which car is best for police?
The Toyota Innova is one of the best MPVs in the country, and widely used by police forces in a number of states. Not only reliability, but the interior space to carry 7 passengers have made it the most popular cop car in India. It is seen as a daily patrol vehicle in some areas as well.