downforce
noun
\
Definition of downforce
: a downward aerodynamic force generated especially by an airfoil (such as a spoiler on a race car)
Examples of downforce in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Following Sunday’s Iowa Corn 300, which saw 955 on-track passes versus 378 last year, Frye and company were feeling optimistic about the progress being made in Year 1 of the new, low downforce, universal aero kits. — Jim Ayello, Indianapolis Star, "IndyCar racing with its new aero kits is 'awesome,' or perhaps 'bland'," 9 July 2018 At this height the Senna’s double diffuser is fully entrained (higher downforce and less drag) due to a phenomenon pilots know as ground effects. — Dan Neil, WSJ, "2019 McLaren Senna: A Pet Racecar for Billionaires," 31 May 2018 The body has even more advanced aerodynamics, including new diffusers at the front and rear that increase downforce by 20 percent over the standard car. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "Ferrari and Porsche announce new cars for the wealthy track addict," 21 Feb. 2018 Active front air ducts and a rear spoiler create up to 1,763.7 pounds of downforce at 155 mph, gluing the car to tarmac while cornering. — Basem Wasef, WIRED, "McLaren's $958,966 Senna Hypercar Ain't Pretty, but It Can Whip a Track," 30 June 2018 The aero tweaks increase the amount of downforce generated to keep the car securely on the road at extremely high speeds. — Mark Phelan, USA TODAY, "Ford's hottest version of Mustang even more blazing with 2019 upgrades," 14 June 2018 The conditions created a slick, 2 ½-mile track, and new cars with less downforce proved to be a handful for even the most experienced of drivers. — Jenna Fryer, Houston Chronicle, "Will Power wins Indy 500, No. 17 for car owner Roger Penske," 27 May 2018 Because the air density at the top of the mountain is about 35% lower than at sea level, the wings have to be about a third bigger to make the same downforce. — Dan Neil, WSJ, "Volkswagen’s All-Electric Effort to Climb Out of Its P.R. Hole," 4 July 2018 The cars also feature wheel arch extensions to allow for wider racing tires (specially made by Pirelli), as well as a front splitter and rear wing to add some downforce. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "Ever wanted to see a race series just for Teslas? I’ve got good news," 25 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'downforce.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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