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

It’s because you are moving. The car gets pushed just as much at zero mph as it does at 100mph. However since you aren’t moving at zero mph it can’t deflect your path. Also your car generates lift at speed which removes weight from the wheels, which in turn allows the wind to more easily blow it around. The overall shape of a G63 is not conducive to high speed driving.

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