“Everything that we do here with these race cars, whether what keeps us safe in an accident or what’s helping us go fast on the track, it’s an engineering-driven sport, which the heart of it is math and science," said Carpenter.
IndyCar sponsors the Future of Fast program with Project Lead the Way. The group provides science, technology, engineering and mathematics course material to U.S. schools. The idea behind the demonstrations is to expose kids to new ideas, says Vince Bertram, head of the organization.
“It’s one thing to just enjoy the speed and the track experience, but when you really start to understand the technical issues and how these cars are designed and put together, that’s exciting and it's engaging for our students," said Bertram.
The children also got to learn about race track safety barriers. Using paper, Styrofoam, straws and glue, the students create their own small barriers. An instrument measures the wall force as the barrier is hit by a small car.
Shane Gorman explains the result.
“If you have it thicker, rather than thinner, it makes a much better barrier," said Gorman.
Brennan Radke was surprised to learn that a real safety wall is not made out of concrete.
“I think that if it was just a concrete wall, then the car would get really demolished, but because it was made of Styrofoam and steel, I don’t think it would damage the car as much," said Radke.
最新
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25