I has some questions regarding drag, lift and top speed, etc. with doing something like this:
1.) Will creating a vacuum (negative pressure) underneath the car cause a "drag" on the car when it's moving?
Additional negative pressure will cause at a minimum an increase in rolling resistance by the increase in downforce. How the downforce is applied can have an external influence that could increase drag. It depends on this is accomplished.
2.) How would I figure out the "correct amount of vacuum" to create underneath the car to keep it from "lifting" at very high speeds?
At very high speeds the force caused by the vacuum has to overcome lift. Lift or downforce, depending on the shape of the vehicle, increases with the speed squared.
3.) Would too much "Negative Pressure" slow the car's acceleration & reduce the potential top speed?
Same as for 1.)
4.) What is more important in regard to "negative pressure" sucking the car down...a large surface area or a large volume?
The surface of the underside facing downward. The negative pressure times the area equals force. The pressure may not be constant along the length or width of underbody. Depends on how this done.
5.) Would creating a "negative pressure" be any different than just any weight to the car?
Same as 1) and 3.
6.) Would you have to increase the vacuum under the car as the car increases speed and lower the vacuum at lower speeds?
Lift and drag will increase with the square of speed. So suction on the underbody may also have to increase to overcome that lift increase. How you do this will influence the external shape and contribute to lift.
Any formulas that are related to weight & down-force, acceleration, speed, lift and drag as related to "negative-pressure" would be great!!!
My main goal is I'm trying to increase the down-force without increasing drag (like using a wing).
Any direction of how to figure some of this stuff out before I build a "scale model" of it would be very helpful.
Thanks a ton!
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