Physics in Formula 1

The Formula 1 car utilises the Bernoulli principle to realise the massive downforce, which keeps the car on the tracks despite the mindboggling speeds which Formula 1 cars achieve. The Bernoulli principle describes the relationship between the velocity of a moving fluid and the pressure exerted by it.The principle states that:

"For an ideal fluid, with no work performed on the fluid, an increase in velocity results in a simultaneous decrease in pressure, or a change in the fluid's gravitational potential energy."

The equation is given by:

v^2 + gh + P/p = constant.

where v is the fluid velocity along the streamline.

g is the acceleration due to gravity.

P is the pressure

p is the fluid density

Figure 2 shows the Bernoulli principle at work on a Formula 1 car