by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Ever wonder why a football is shaped the way it is?
Ever wonder what kind of damage a big hit in a football game may be causing both players?
Do you watch a NASCAR race and wonder why the drivers “tailgate” at 180-plus miles per hour?
Two-thousand of the brightest physicists in the country — a few from other parts of the world — will be in town April 14-17 for a convention of the America Physical Society at the Hyatt.
Part of the weekend-long convention will feature a free public lecture by Dr. Diandra Leslie-Pelecky that will cover the physics behind NASCAR racing.
“We are pretty sure we will have an actual NASCAR car and driver,” said James Riordan, head of media relations for the APS. “Dr. Leslie-Pelecky is writing a book on the physics of NASCAR and this is part of her research.”
NASCAR is in Texas that week and Riordan said having a car and driver is up to the driver himself. However, there will be 2,000 of the brightest physicists in the world here for the convention, the second-biggest of the year for the APS.
“We were in Denver (earlier this month) and that’s our biggest meeting. We had about 7,000 people,” said Riordan.
In addition to Leslie-Pelecky’s lecture, attendees will see and hear about some of the major astrophysical issues facing the world today. Two years ago, the convention was in Tampa and the guest lecturer explained the physics behind “Star Trek.” In Denver, Dr. Tim Gay of the University of Nebraska discussed the physics behind the game of football, covering everything from the aerodynamic shape of a football to the evolution of the modern helmet. In addition to expounding on the pure force of a helmet-to-helmet hit, Gay explained how the modern helmet absorbs and disperses the force of a hit.
The APS in headquartered in College Park, Md. Riordan said the organization chose Jacksonville because they try to move the convention all over the country, changing coasts yearly while making sure both the northern and southern halves of the country get to host the event. While the public is invited, the conventions cater more specifically to the society of physicists, teachers in the field and students at every level interested in the topic. Locally, Riordan said he’s working with the local amateur racing associations to generate attendance.
In Denver, Gay — who played football at Cal. Tech — also explained how, through force generated by speed, how a smaller player can physically dominate and run over a bigger, stronger player.
Here in Jacksonville, Riordan said Leslie-Pelecky will talk about things that happen during a NASCAR race the average fan may not think about:
• Bump drafting, which involves one driver bumping another driver from behind. The forward force created by the front car actually helps pull the second car, allowing him to pass.
• Aerodynamics, according to Riordan, will play a key role in the future of NASCAR. “The car of tomorrow in NASCAR will have a very different set of aerodynamics,” he said.
• Leslie-Pelecky will also discuss the advancement in safety devices which have, despite the occasional spectacular crash, made NASCAR actually quite safe.
After the lecture, Riordan said Leslie-Pelecky will be available for a question and answer session as well as one-on-one questions.