F1 Race on the Moon

Here are our CFD links and discussions about aerodynamics, suspension, driver safety and tyres. Please stick to F1 on this forum.
throwaway1
throwaway1
1
Joined: 26 Dec 2011, 19:46

F1 Race on the Moon

Post

This is a hypothetical question obviously.

Motivated by a joke article on f1 banter, I was thinking of what it would be like to have an F1 race on the moon.

Suppose we had some sort of colony on the moon used for research and the like. This area was sealed off and the air pressure inside was kept at 1 atm.

What would driving an F1 car on there be like?

I'd imagine teams would need to run very high downforce levels. They need to move the same mass, but now have less force pushing the tires to the surface.

What other effects would there be?

User avatar
amouzouris
105
Joined: 14 Feb 2011, 20:21

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

umm...they can run as much AoA on the wings as they want..it will do nothing..there is no atmosphere on the moon...no air..no downforce...

throwaway1
throwaway1
1
Joined: 26 Dec 2011, 19:46

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

amouzouris wrote:umm...they can run as much AoA on the wings as they want..it will do nothing..there is no atmosphere on the moon...no air..no downforce...
read my post again

Pup
Pup
50
Joined: 08 May 2008, 17:45

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

The moon people are notorious tightwads. They'd never pay Bernie's fee.

But the cars are so light, I'd say gravity is optional.

User avatar
amouzouris
105
Joined: 14 Feb 2011, 20:21

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

throwaway1 wrote:
amouzouris wrote:umm...they can run as much AoA on the wings as they want..it will do nothing..there is no atmosphere on the moon...no air..no downforce...
read my post again
oops...im so sorry you are right..should read the posts better before i posted!!

User avatar
flynfrog
Moderator
Joined: 23 Mar 2006, 22:31

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

The amount of O2 in the atmosphere. A pretty rare and pricey comodity

Pup
Pup
50
Joined: 08 May 2008, 17:45

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

Well I think we can assume that the cars would be converted to run on cheese.

gridwalker
gridwalker
7
Joined: 27 Mar 2009, 12:22
Location: Sheffield, UK

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

Don't forget the Space Nazis ... Joe Saward would lead the call for a boycott ;)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py_IndUbcxc[/youtube]
"Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine ..."

User avatar
WhiteBlue
92
Joined: 14 Apr 2008, 20:58
Location: WhiteBlue Country

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

Pirelli would not have to bring rain tyres unless Bernie has them to install his sprinklers and a weather lottery program.
Formula One's fundamental ethos is about success coming to those with the most ingenious engineering and best .............................. organization, not to those with the biggest budget. (Dave Richards)

Sombrero
Sombrero
126
Joined: 22 Feb 2012, 20:18

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

Bernie would be glad : another GP venue with no atmosphere...

User avatar
raymondu999
54
Joined: 04 Feb 2010, 07:31

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

throwaway1 wrote:I'd imagine teams would need to run very high downforce levels. They need to move the same mass, but now have less force pushing the tires to the surface.
Why, if they have 1 atm of pressure? :?

It's Total's ad here in Singapore too:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYgkzPZPgn8[/youtube]
失败者找理由,成功者找方法

Pup
Pup
50
Joined: 08 May 2008, 17:45

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

My sources tell me that the GP will really be run in an abandoned film studio in the Arizona desert.

xpensive
xpensive
214
Joined: 22 Nov 2008, 18:06
Location: Somewhere in Scandinavia

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

Pup wrote:My sources tell me that the GP will really be run in an abandoned film studio in the Arizona desert.
I think it would make more sense to take the race to planet Vulcan, to avoid emotional outbursts from the spectators.
"I spent most of my money on wine and women...I wasted the rest"

Pup
Pup
50
Joined: 08 May 2008, 17:45

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

A race on Ron Dennis' home world? Dream on. Besides, tickets on Vulcan are all PSL.

User avatar
roller
0
Joined: 10 Mar 2012, 16:47

Re: F1 Race on the Moon

Post

If You put the cars into an artificial atmosphere, i think that the only change with respect to a real race in the earth it would be the less gravity. Your inertia would be the same, your downforce would be the same, but your gravity force would be less.

In terms of grip, it would be like the F3 in the earth or any category with severe restrictions in aerodynamics. In fact, it doesn't matter where the vertical force comes from, it only matter the sum of all vertical forces.


Well, probably, if Schumacher wins the race, he would jump much higher.
English is not my native language. Sorry for my mistakes.

Currently i'm collaborating in the design of an alternative suspension moto2. You can find all the information here: http://www.lamoto2.es and my own experience, here http://www.f1-gears.com/showthread.php?t=127