how come wind can push my heavy box-shaped car around when I’m driving 60mph, but it can’t do it when the car is standing still?

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Although I have a heavy box-shaped car, I was thinking about the Mercedes G63 specifically. That is a powerful engine on a non-aerodynamic car, what happens if you take it over 100mph and get hit by a gust of 60mph wind? My car gets literally pushed around lanes during heavy winds at highway speeds, has anyone ever even gotten a G63 past 150mph?

In: Physics

25 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

The wind will exert the same force on an object whether or not it’s moving. The reason it causes you to veer is *because* you’re moving.

If the car is still, the wind cannot overcome the friction of the tires on the pavement. It will still cause the chassis to move though.

When you’re driving, the force of the wind on the car will cause the steering system to deflect, that’s why you veer. If you’re not moving, what happens to the steering can’t affect the car.

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