Editing Downforce (section)

==Body==
The rounded and tapered shape of the top of a car is designed to slice through the air and minimize wind resistance.{{cn|date=February 2024}} Detailed pieces of bodywork on top of the car can be added to allow a smooth flow of air to reach the downforce-creating elements (e.g., wings or spoilers, and underbody tunnels).{{cn|date=February 2024}}

The overall shape of a car resembles an airplane wing.  Almost all road cars produce aerodynamic lift as a result of this shape.<ref>{{cite book |last=Katz |first=Joseph |date=1995 |title=Race car aerodynamics: designing for speed |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8PUNQwAACAAJ&q=race+car+aerodynamics |page=50,52|publisher=Robert Bentley, Incorporated |isbn=9780837601427 }} As retrieved from http://hpwizard.com/aerodynamics.html on Feb 28, 2020</ref> There are many techniques that are used to counterbalance this lift. Looking at the profile of most road cars, the front bumper has the lowest ground clearance followed by the section between the front and rear tires, and followed by a rear bumper, usually with the highest clearance.{{cn|date=February 2024}} Using this layout, the air flowing under the front bumper will be constricted to a lower cross-sectional area, and thus achieve a lower pressure.{{cn|date=February 2024}} Additional downforce comes from the rake (or angle) of the vehicle's body, which directs the underside air up and creates a downward force, increasing the pressure on top of the car because the airflow direction comes closer to perpendicular to the surface.{{cn|date=February 2024}} 

Volume does not affect the air pressure because it is not an enclosed volume, despite the common misconception.{{cn|date=February 2024}} Race cars amplify this effect by adding a rear [[diffuser (automotive)|diffuser]] to accelerate air under the car in front of the diffuser, and raise the air pressure behind it, lessening the car's wake.{{cn|date=February 2024}} Other aerodynamic components that can be found on the underside to improve downforce and/or reduce drag, include [[splitter (automotive)|splitters]] and vortex generators.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

Some cars, such as the [[DeltaWing]], do not have wings, and generate all of their downforce through their body.{{cn|date=February 2024}}