What weight should I use for a Pinewood Derby car?

What weight should I use for a Pinewood Derby car?

Below are several suggestions for adding weights to your pinewood derby car.

• Zinc Top Weight.
• Lead Wire Weights.
• Tungsten Weights.
• Tungsten Canopy.

How much does a Pinewood Derby wood block weigh?

approximately 3.4 ounces
The standard pinewood derby block is approximately 7.0 inches long by 1.75 inches wide by 1.25 inches tall. It has a typical density of 0.0138 lbs/in3. The block is supplied unsanded with grooves cut on the bottom side to accept the axles. The blocks weigh approximately 3.4 ounces.

Where is the best place to add weight to a Pinewood Derby car?

rear
Weight should be placed towards the rear of the car. You can drill the weight holes in the bottom, side or rear of the car as shown in these examples. Stay at least 1/8″ away from the axle slots.

How do you melt lead on a Pinewood Derby car?

You can melt lead at home using a portable burner and some household cans, but it is not a job for kids. Lead melts at a lower temperature than most metal, but molten led is still extremely hot and can cause severe burns.

Is a heavier Pinewood Derby car faster?

Much has been written about the physics of pinewood derby cars, and this is one rare case in racing where heavy = fast. Aerodynamics have little effect in such a short race, but weight does and putting the weight at the back of the car will make your car faster on the flat of the track.

Why does adding weight to a Pinewood Derby car make it go faster?

Simply put: the more weight you can shift towards the rear of the car, the more potential energy it will have. The key important term is POTENTIAL. It is believed that the more stored energy you have, the faster your car can travel.

How do you make a derby car go faster?

5 Quick & Easy Tips For Improving Your Pinewood Derby Car’s Speed

1. Put all of your weight in the back.
2. Lube the car at the body/wheel friction point.
3. Spend a fair amount of time on axle prep.
4. Make sure your wheels are ready.
5. Finally, once your wheels are mounted, check their alignment.

What kind of weights are used for pinewood derby?

Pinewood derby weights come in a variety of sizes, such as 3/8″ round cylinder weights and 1/4″ cube weights that can be hidden inside the car, stick-on wieghts that can be placed anywhere on your car instantly or screw-on weights that are tyipically screwed to the bottom of your car.

How can I Make my pinewood derby car faster?

You must add weight to your pinewood derby car to make it fast. If you don’t have enough weight, your car will not have enough inertia to reach the finish line. Gravity is the force moving your car down the track. Therefor, the more your car weighs, the more inertia it has and the faster it will race to the finish line.

What is the weight of a derby car?

The maximum weight limit for a pinewood derby car is 5.0 ounces. Your car should weigh 5.0oz to be competitive. The car block weighs between 1.5oz and 3.5oz (depending on your car design), so plan on adding roughly between 1 and 3 ounces, which allows .5oz for wheels and axles.

What is the cog on a pinewood derby car?

It is an important function in building a pinewood Derby® car. COG is the balance point of your car. This will be measured by using the ruler. There is a COG tool on the market for those that like to spend a few extra $$$. I’ll update this once I find it again.