Pitsco Racer Glossary

Aerodynamics
The properties and forces produced as an object moves through the air, or a steam of air moves around an object.

Aesthetic
Describing an object’s visual appeal or attractiveness.

CO₂ Cartridge
A small, sealed, metal tube that contains compressed carbon dioxide. CO₂ cartridges are used to propel race cars down the track.

Coping Saw
A small hand-held saw with a narrow blade, useful for making curved cuts in wood. Good for rough shaping race car bodies if a band saw is unavailable.

Decelerate
The act of slowing a moving object. In CO₂ racing, a car must be safely decelerated after it.

Drag
Force that resists an object’s movement through the air. The more the object disrupts the laminar

Dragster
A race car that races a short distance on a straight track. CO₂ race cars are often referred to as dragsters.

Friction
Force that resists relative motion between two objects in contact.

Hybrid Car
A CO₂ race car design in which two wheels are housed inside the body and two are mounted externally.

Inertia
Property or tendency of an object at rest to remain at rest unless acted upon by a force.

Lift
Aerodynamic force that pushes upward on a body as it moves through an air stream. Airplane wings generate lift; race car bodies may also generate lift, positive or negative (downward force) as they move down the track.

Power Plant
The CO₂ cartridge onboard a racecar. The power plant housing is the body material that surrounds the cartridge.

Thrust
Force that propels an object, sets it into motion, or keeps it moving.

Thumbnail Sketch
A small, quick sketch used to rapidly communicate ideas.

Tolerances
An acceptable variance from a specified measurement. Used to determine the minimum and maximum measurements.

Traction
Friction between a car’s tires and the road surface. Traction allows the wheels/tires to propel a car forward without the wheels spinning in place. In CO₂ racing, the wheels do not propel the vehicle, so increasing traction is not necessary.

Turbulence
Property of an air stream moving in a swirling or tumbling fashion.