Daytona 500 — STEM Pit Crew Challenge - Christy Walters | Laabri

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Students rotate through a hands-on Daytona 500–themed set of stations to investigate real race concepts: aerodynamics, banking/centripetal force, tire grip, lap-time data analysis, and pit-stop tradeoffs. Section 1 (the experimental section) is completed first; teams record measured values and observations and then answer quick-check conceptual and calculation questions.

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Which element on a race car most directly reduces aerodynamic drag at high speeds?

Larger headlights

Smooth, streamlined body shape

Taller antenna

Bigger wheel spokes

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Adding a rear spoiler on a NASCAR vehicle usually increases which of the following?

Downforce and sometimes drag

Downforce and decreases drag

Decreases both downforce and drag

Increases drag but reduces downforce

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On a banked track like Daytona, cars rely less on tire friction to turn because the banking helps provide the centripetal force.

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Which two tradeoffs do pit crews most commonly manage during a pit stop? (Select two.)

Speed of service vs. precision of service

Paint color vs. fuel grade

Number of tires changed vs. time spent

Loudness of tools vs. engine horsepower

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What is the common SI unit used to report car speed? (three words or less)

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A toy car completes a $20\ \text{m}$ straight test run in $2.5\ \text{s}$. What is its average speed in meters per second?

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Your team recorded lap times (seconds): 9.8, 10.1, 9.9, 14.3. Which time is the likely outlier and why?

9.8 because it is too low

14.3 because it is much higher than the others

10.1 because it is highest

9.9 because it is closest to the average

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On a banked section, a car can take a curve faster without skidding. If a model car takes a curve at $4\ \text{m/s}$ on a flat turn but at $5\ \text{m/s}$ on a banked version, what is the percent increase in speed? (Percent increase = ((new − old)/old) × 100)

20%

25%

5%

80%

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Which factor does NOT typically increase tire grip on a race track?

Proper tire temperature

Appropriate tire compound for the surface

Increased track contamination (oil/debris)

Correct tire pressure

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You graph lap time vs. tire surface temperature and see lap time decrease as temperature rises, then increase after a peak. What does that likely indicate?

Tires perform better only when cold

There is an optimal temperature range for best grip

Temperature has no effect on lap time

Higher temperature always reduces lap time

Matching — Station Concepts Match each station (left) to the main concept it demonstrates (right).

Left: A. Aerodynamics test B. Banked ramp C. Tire surface trials D. Pit-stop relay

Right:

Centripetal force and banking
Tire traction and surface effects
Service speed vs. accuracy
Drag and downforce

Correct pairs: A — 4; B — 1; C — 2; D — 3

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When designing a faster pit-stop tool, which constraints should engineers consider? (Choose two.)

Reliability under repeated use

Brightness of the tool's color

Ergonomics for the crew

The driver’s favorite snack

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Explain in one short paragraph how aerodynamics, tires, and pit strategy work together to improve a car’s race performance at Daytona.

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Draw a free-body diagram for a car on a banked curve showing gravity, normal force, friction, and the horizontal component providing centripetal force.

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Daytona 500 — STEM Pit Crew Challenge

Daytona 500 — STEM Pit Crew Challenge

Which element on a race car most directly reduces aerodynamic drag at high speeds?

Adding a rear spoiler on a NASCAR vehicle usually increases which of the following?

On a banked track like Daytona, cars rely less on tire friction to turn because the banking helps provide the centripetal force.

Which two tradeoffs do pit crews most commonly manage during a pit stop? (Select two.)

What is the common SI unit used to report car speed? (three words or less)

A toy car completes a $20\ \text{m}$ straight test run in $2.5\ \text{s}$. What is its average speed in meters per second?

Your team recorded lap times (seconds): 9.8, 10.1, 9.9, 14.3. Which time is the likely outlier and why?

On a banked section, a car can take a curve faster without skidding. If a model car takes a curve at $4\ \text{m/s}$ on a flat turn but at $5\ \text{m/s}$ on a banked version, what is the percent increase in speed? (Percent increase = ((new − old)/old) × 100)

Which factor does NOT typically increase tire grip on a race track?

You graph lap time vs. tire surface temperature and see lap time decrease as temperature rises, then increase after a peak. What does that likely indicate?

When designing a faster pit-stop tool, which constraints should engineers consider? (Choose two.)

Explain in one short paragraph how aerodynamics, tires, and pit strategy work together to improve a car’s race performance at Daytona.

Draw a free-body diagram for a car on a banked curve showing gravity, normal force, friction, and the horizontal component providing centripetal force.

What term describes the force that pulls an object toward the center of a circular path? (three words or less)

Trial A — Distance used for straight runs

Trial A — Average time WITHOUT spoiler (seconds)

Trial A — Average time WITH spoiler (seconds)

Trial A — Did adding the spoiler increase stability or reduce top speed? Briefly explain the observed tradeoff.

Trial B — Approximate radius of your curve

Trial B — Average time on flat curve (seconds)

Trial B — Average time on banked curve (seconds)

Trial B — Skidding/derailments: how many on flat vs banked?

Trial B — Based on your runs, did banking help cornering stability? Briefly explain.

Trial C — Average time on Surface 1 (smooth) (seconds)

Trial C — Average time on Surface 2 (carpet) (seconds)

Trial C — Average time on Surface 3 (sandpaper) (seconds)

Trial C — Which surface gave best grip?

Trial C — Describe any visible wheel slip or changes in traction between surfaces.

Trial D — Fast trial time (seconds)

Trial D — Precise trial time (seconds)

Trial D — Mistakes observed during fast trial

Trial D — Which strategy (fast or precise) would you choose in a real race situation and why? Mention tradeoffs.

Which modification or condition produced the fastest straight speed?

Which condition produced the best corner stability?

One surprising observation

Which element on a race car most directly reduces aerodynamic drag at high speeds?

Adding a rear spoiler on a NASCAR vehicle usually increases which of the following?

On a banked track like Daytona, cars rely less on tire friction to turn because the banking helps provide the centripetal force.

Which two tradeoffs do pit crews most commonly manage during a pit stop? (Select two.)

What is the common SI unit used to report car speed? (three words or less)

A toy car completes a $20\ \text{m}$ straight test run in $2.5\ \text{s}$. What is its average speed in meters per second?

Your team recorded lap times (seconds): 9.8, 10.1, 9.9, 14.3. Which time is the likely outlier and why?

On a banked section, a car can take a curve faster without skidding. If a model car takes a curve at $4\ \text{m/s}$ on a flat turn but at $5\ \text{m/s}$ on a banked version, what is the percent increase in speed? (Percent increase = ((new − old)/old) × 100)

Which factor does NOT typically increase tire grip on a race track?

You graph lap time vs. tire surface temperature and see lap time decrease as temperature rises, then increase after a peak. What does that likely indicate?

When designing a faster pit-stop tool, which constraints should engineers consider? (Choose two.)

Explain in one short paragraph how aerodynamics, tires, and pit strategy work together to improve a car’s race performance at Daytona.

Draw a free-body diagram for a car on a banked curve showing gravity, normal force, friction, and the horizontal component providing centripetal force.

What term describes the force that pulls an object toward the center of a circular path? (three words or less)

Trial A — Distance used for straight runs

Trial A — Average time WITHOUT spoiler (seconds)

Trial A — Average time WITH spoiler (seconds)

Trial A — Did adding the spoiler increase stability or reduce top speed? Briefly explain the observed tradeoff.

Trial B — Approximate radius of your curve

Trial B — Average time on flat curve (seconds)

Trial B — Average time on banked curve (seconds)

Trial B — Skidding/derailments: how many on flat vs banked?

Trial B — Based on your runs, did banking help cornering stability? Briefly explain.

Trial C — Average time on Surface 1 (smooth) (seconds)

Trial C — Average time on Surface 2 (carpet) (seconds)

Trial C — Average time on Surface 3 (sandpaper) (seconds)

Trial C — Which surface gave best grip?

Trial C — Describe any visible wheel slip or changes in traction between surfaces.

Trial D — Fast trial time (seconds)

Trial D — Precise trial time (seconds)

Trial D — Mistakes observed during fast trial

Trial D — Which strategy (fast or precise) would you choose in a real race situation and why? Mention tradeoffs.

Which modification or condition produced the fastest straight speed?

Which condition produced the best corner stability?

One surprising observation