Instructional Video
National Science Foundation

National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Momentum and Time

9th - 10th
Increasing the time of a collision from a tenth of a second to two tenths of a second can make a huge difference in the number of G's a driver experiences. The car, the track, seat belts, and seat construction spread out the force of...
Instructional Video
National Science Foundation

National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Firesuits

9th - 10th
"Frightening" is how Jeff Gordon describes fire, even though he knows he's protected head to toe (and right down to his underwear) by fire-resistant Nomex fabric. Firesuits and the associated gear don't just protect drivers from fire,...
Instructional Video
National Science Foundation

National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Power

9th - 10th
Think of 850 horses all lined up - that's how much power a NASCAR Sprint Cup engine has. The engine's job is to convert the energy in fuel to speed. NASCAR engines do it faster and more efficiently than passenger car engines. [4:52]
Instructional Video
National Science Foundation

National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Car Safety

9th - 10th
Conservation of energy explains how this NASCAR race car driver was able to walk away from a horrific crash in 2008. See how the design of the car enabled it to absorb and transform kinetic energy, and protect the driver from injury. [5:30]