The front wheels of a racing car are located far out in front to help keep the vehicle from nosing upward when it accelerateswhat physics concepts play a role here? Does it have to do with the center of gravity being in the back with the torque playing a role as well?Any advice would be appreciated.
Rear-wheel drive is the preferred metheod of propelling a race car, especially in drag racing where the weight is transferred to the rear wheels. When your driving a front-wheel drive car into a turn while accellerating you're pulling the car intead of pushing the car. If you push a car around a corner as in rear-wheel drive, you have more control over the distribution of weight and the physical effects, such as inertia (trying to change direction of a body in motion). You are able to force the car instead of guiding it, enabling the driver to have more control than he really needs, by seperating the drive wheels from the wheels that steer the car. You make the front axle do a job and also the rear axle do a job. A front wheel drive is anemic like a paraplegic, where you limit function. As far as a front wheel drive car being used in racing, there are always going to be people who want to try something different, but so far with a car with four wheels, rear wheel drive is better for all types of racing.
