Why Sports Car Have Less Ground Clearance ?

Why Sports Car Have Less Ground Clearance?

You might have observed that sports cars have very less ground clearance.Let us understand the reason behind it.

What is ground clearance :

Ground Clearance is also known as ‘ride height’ or simply ‘clearance’, ground clearance is the shortest distance between the ground and the underside of the frame (or chassis) of a vehicle. In other words, it’s the measure of the space between a flat, even surface (on which the vehicle is riding) and any part of the vehicle that’s not supposed to be in physical contact with the ground (like wheels and skis)

Why sports car have very low ground clearance?

1.Center of gravity:

Ground clearance determines a very important physical property of the vehicle: center of gravity. It is the point on an object where the total weight of the body is thought to be concentrated. In automobiles, low ground clearance implies that the center of gravity of the vehicle is low. This trait significantly impacts the handling of the vehicle. You see, a car with low ground clearance sticks close to the ground more strongly, and is therefore less likely to topple or roll over when abrupt and sharp turns are made. In contrast, a car with a higher center of gravity is more likely to be acted upon by outside forces that can move it laterally on the track and cause it to roll over.

2.Aerodynamics:

Aerodynamics is the way with which air flows over the vehicle.The upcoming air from the front tends to lift the vehicle.If the ground clearance is high in case of sports cars which run at high speed, the upcoming air will tend to lift the vehicle from bottom.So to avoid this,ground clearance is kept low.

High ground clearance versus low ground clearance

Whether the vehicle is going to have a high ground clearance or a low one depends largely on the conditions in which it’s going to be used. High ground clearance comes in handy when you’re driving on uneven terrain, like those in mountainous and rocky regions, by preventing damage to the undercarriage. It’s also helpful in remote, under-developed and rural areas where roads might not be even. You will commonly see high ground clearance in vehicles like SUVs, pickups and minivans.

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