Author, university set 'The Physics of NASCAR' lecture

The Charlotte Observer

Saturday, Apr. 05, 2008

Physics professor and author of “The Physics of NASCAR,” Diandra Leslie-Pelecky will visit UNC Charlotte Monday, April 7, to present a free, public lecture about the science of racing.

Through a visual presentation, Leslie-Pelecky will take participants behind the scenes of NASCAR race shops and onto the track of Texas Motor Speedway and Daytona International. She will explore aerodynamics, materials science and vehicle dynamics, including why superspeedways have banking, why race cars don’t have mufflers and how drafting makes it possible for two cars to travel faster than either could alone.

Sponsored by the Center for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education and the Department of Physics, the lecture will take place in the College of Health and Human Services, Room 281, at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit www.stockcarscience.com.

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