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Transportation Science Fair Project

Suspension Stiffness and Cornering Speed

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Suspension Stiffness and Cornering Speed | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
How does spring stiffness affect a car's speed around bends? Suspension systems absorb bumps and keep tires on the ground. Stiffer springs might help on curves but slow you down on straights. You swap springs of different stiffness into a remote-controlled car. Then you run the car on three courses: a straight track, a clockwise loop, and a counter-clockwise loop. You time each run at both full speed and low speed. Comparing the times reveals how spring stiffness changes performance on curves versus straight lines.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that the firmer the suspension, the faster the car is able to travel around bends.

Method & Materials

You will install springs of different levels of firmness into a remote-controlled car, and then measure the time it takes for the car to complete a straight course, a clockwise course, and a counter-clockwise course.
You will need a Tamiya customized remote-control sports car, springs of different levels of firmness, an electronic metronome, a stopwatch, blank paper and pen, and 40 AAA batteries.

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Results

The results show that the hypothesis should be accepted. Overall, the stiffer the spring, the faster the car travels around bends. However, it is interesting to note that the springs of medium-firmness performed the worst for the round circuit.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it allows students to explore the relationship between the firmness of a car's suspension system and its speed around bends.

Also Consider

Consider experimenting with different types of tires to see if they affect the results, or testing the car's speed on different surfaces.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

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