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Old 10-20-2020, 08:25 AM   #3592 (permalink)
Bicycle Bob
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: N. Saskatchewan, CA
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Appliance White - '93 Geo Metro 4-Dr. Auto
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AeroMcAeroFace View Post
Why does the mass location not make any difference? Would the car be as likely to tip in cross winds if the mass was concentrated 100 feet in the air? Maybe resistance to sliding, turning or being a weather vane is related to total mass but I don't understand how the mass being lower wouldn't improve crosswind tipping resistance.

If the mass was infinitely high it would be an inverted pendulum and any breeze would topple it over.
If the mass were very high, it would take the centre of pressure up with it in any realistic visualization. However, the mass itself will always be acting straight down, and as long as the road is level and straight, will have the same effect.
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