Aerodynamics! We’ve all heard about it, we’ve all talked about, and if you’re into racing, odds are you’ve relied on it to go around a corner or two. But what exactly is it? Luckily, our friends over at Donut Media put together the following 10-minute video explaining how the hell aero actually works.

The video covers all the basics in a quick, easy-to-understand way, starting with basic terms like lift and drag. It also tosses in a few equations if you’re into that thing, and briefly touches on the history of aero as it relates to the car industry.

Later on, the video looks at drag coefficient, which is a pretty big deal these days, especially within the efficiency-obsessed hybrid and all-electric segments. But don’t worry, performance cars and race cars are also a major part of the vid, especially with regards to downforce versus drag. Finally, a few of the various types of aero-adders (spoilers, splitters, etc.) are explained in terms of how they affect a vehicle’s handling and balance.

So watch the video, digest its contents, and next time you’re tempted to bolt a giant wing onto your trunk, maybe you’ll know better.

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