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LOCATION GLOSSARY
YAW: vehicular rotation (turning) about a vertical axis. Measured in degrees. YAW RATE: the speed of yaw motion about a vertical axis. Measured in degrees per second.
HEADING PATH \ VEHICLE PATH

MID VS. REAR

SLIP ANGLE

MID-ENGINE (or AMIDSHIPS): car layout with the engine located behind the driver, ahead of the rear axle.
CENTER OF GRAVITY ( CG ) :

YAW AXIS YAW MOTION

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hypothetical point in a vehicle equivalent to the mean average location of all the constituent masses. Lower is better for handling and stability. Cars with their CG located near the drive wheels enjoy superior accelerating traction.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VEHICLES HEADING AND THE DIRECTION OF ITS ACTUAL FORWARD MOTION.

SLIP (DRIFT) ANGLE:

POLAR MOMENT OF INERTIA (a.k.a. ROTATIONAL INERTIA or ANGULAR MASS):

a physical objects resistance to rotation about any axis. In the car context, a larger polar moment (usually resulting from a large distance between the vehicles major masses) means that higher forces are required to stop and start any turning maneuver.