What materials are used in F1 cars?

F1 cars use advanced materials like carbon fiber and magnesium for their lightweight and strong properties.

How fast can an F1 car accelerate?

An F1 car can accelerate to high speeds in just a handful of seconds, often exceeding 290 km/h.

What is the purpose of aerodynamics in F1 cars?

Aerodynamics helps F1 cars maintain grip on the track and corner faster by generating downforce.

How do F1 teams ensure safety for drivers?

F1 teams use strong materials and design features to protect drivers, including reinforced fuel tanks and crash structures.

What is the significance of precision engineering in F1?

Precision engineering allows F1 cars to operate at extreme speeds and conditions without failure.

How do F1 pit stops work?

F1 pit stops are highly coordinated events where mechanics can change all four tires in under 10 seconds.

What role does weight play in F1 car performance?

Reducing weight improves acceleration and braking, making the car faster on the track.

How do F1 cars manage heat during races?

F1 cars are designed to withstand high temperatures, with materials and cooling systems that prevent overheating.

What is the relationship between F1 technology and military engineering?

F1 technology has roots in military engineering, particularly in areas like artillery and jet propulsion.

How does the design of F1 cars differ from regular cars?

F1 cars are designed solely for performance, lacking features like luggage space and indicators found in regular cars.

Engineering Connections (Richard Hammond) - Formula 1 | Science Documentary | Reel Truth Science

00:49:59

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OziCDoox5Y

Zusammenfassung

TLDRThe video delves into the engineering marvels of Formula 1 cars, emphasizing their purpose-built design for speed and performance. It highlights the use of advanced materials such as carbon fiber and magnesium, which provide strength while keeping weight low. The video explains the significance of aerodynamics in enhancing grip and cornering capabilities, as well as the importance of precision engineering to withstand extreme conditions. Safety features, including reinforced fuel tanks and crash structures, are also discussed. Additionally, the video draws connections between F1 technology and historical engineering advancements, showcasing how innovations in F1 have influenced other fields.

Mitbringsel

🏎️ F1 cars are engineered for maximum speed and efficiency.
🔧 Advanced materials like carbon fiber and magnesium are crucial for performance.
🌬️ Aerodynamics plays a key role in maintaining grip and cornering speed.
🛡️ Safety features protect drivers during high-speed races.
⏱️ Precision engineering allows F1 cars to operate at extreme conditions.
🔄 Pit stops are executed with military precision, changing tires in under 10 seconds.
⚖️ Weight reduction is essential for better acceleration and braking.
🔥 F1 cars can withstand high temperatures due to specialized materials.
🔗 F1 technology has historical ties to military engineering innovations.
💡 Innovations in F1 often influence technology in other fields.

Zeitleiste

00:00:00 - 00:05:00
The video introduces the high-performance world of Formula 1 (F1) racing, highlighting the engineering marvels of F1 cars designed solely for speed and victory. It emphasizes the advanced materials and technologies used in their construction, such as titanium and carbon fiber, and the intricate engineering that allows these cars to perform at extraordinary speeds.
00:05:00 - 00:10:00
The discussion shifts to the engineering principles behind F1 cars, comparing them to artillery and jet engines. The importance of precision in design is highlighted, explaining how F1 engines, despite being smaller than family car engines, achieve incredible power through advanced engineering techniques that maximize efficiency and performance.
00:10:00 - 00:15:00
An exploration of the internal combustion engine follows, detailing how F1 engines operate at much higher RPMs than standard engines. The video explains the significance of reducing windage in the engine design, drawing parallels between F1 technology and military artillery advancements that have influenced modern engineering.
00:15:00 - 00:20:00
The video transitions to the relationship between sailing and F1 aerodynamics, explaining how the principles of lift and downforce are crucial for maintaining grip on the track. It illustrates how F1 cars utilize aerodynamic shapes to enhance performance, allowing them to corner faster and stay grounded at high speeds.
00:20:00 - 00:25:00
The importance of aerodynamics in F1 is further elaborated, showcasing how engineers balance downforce and drag to optimize speed and handling. The video emphasizes that every surface of an F1 car is meticulously designed to achieve the best aerodynamic performance, which is essential for competitive racing.
00:25:00 - 00:30:00
The narrative then focuses on the materials used in F1 cars, particularly the quest for lightweight yet strong materials. The video highlights the use of carbon fiber and its manufacturing process, explaining how it contributes to the overall performance and safety of F1 vehicles.
00:30:00 - 00:35:00
Next, the video discusses the innovative design of F1 fuel tanks, which must be both strong and flexible to withstand impacts. It explains how combining materials like Kevlar and rubber creates a safe and effective solution for fuel containment, ensuring driver safety during races.
00:35:00 - 00:40:00
The video also covers the rapid tire changes during pit stops, showcasing the efficiency of F1 mechanics and the specialized tools used to facilitate quick tire swaps. This segment emphasizes the importance of teamwork and precision in achieving fast pit stops, which can significantly impact race outcomes.
00:40:00 - 00:49:59
Finally, the video concludes by reflecting on the broader implications of F1 engineering, noting how technologies developed for racing have influenced various fields, including aerospace. It celebrates the intricate connections between historical engineering practices and modern advancements in F1, underscoring the continuous pursuit of speed and innovation.

Mind Map

Video-Fragen und Antworten

What materials are used in F1 cars?
F1 cars use advanced materials like carbon fiber and magnesium for their lightweight and strong properties.
How fast can an F1 car accelerate?
An F1 car can accelerate to high speeds in just a handful of seconds, often exceeding 290 km/h.
What is the purpose of aerodynamics in F1 cars?
Aerodynamics helps F1 cars maintain grip on the track and corner faster by generating downforce.
How do F1 teams ensure safety for drivers?
F1 teams use strong materials and design features to protect drivers, including reinforced fuel tanks and crash structures.
What is the significance of precision engineering in F1?
Precision engineering allows F1 cars to operate at extreme speeds and conditions without failure.
How do F1 pit stops work?
F1 pit stops are highly coordinated events where mechanics can change all four tires in under 10 seconds.
What role does weight play in F1 car performance?
Reducing weight improves acceleration and braking, making the car faster on the track.
How do F1 cars manage heat during races?
F1 cars are designed to withstand high temperatures, with materials and cooling systems that prevent overheating.
What is the relationship between F1 technology and military engineering?
F1 technology has roots in military engineering, particularly in areas like artillery and jet propulsion.
How does the design of F1 cars differ from regular cars?
F1 cars are designed solely for performance, lacking features like luggage space and indicators found in regular cars.

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Untertitel

Automatisches Blättern:

00:00:00
[Music]
00:00:04
this is one of the most highly tuned
00:00:06
machines in the world
00:00:09
it was born for one reason and one
00:00:12
reason only to race
00:00:18
[Music]
00:00:22
and win
00:00:26
in just a handful of seconds an f1 car
00:00:29
accelerates to the kinds of speeds at
00:00:30
which a chakra
00:00:31
[Applause]
00:00:38
in fact they're so fast that the
00:00:42
engineers have to work hard to stop them
00:00:44
taking off and that kind of high
00:00:46
performance calls for titanium carbon
00:00:49
five all those other exotic modern
00:00:50
materials but it also requires some
00:00:52
surprising engineering connections a
00:00:56
revolution in artillery a new design for
00:01:01
a jet engine any second now it's about
00:01:03
snap oh that's ruined an ancient boat
00:01:10
protective armor and a blacksmith's
00:01:15
forge taps a sword an f1 car has just
00:01:31
one purpose in life to go as fast as
00:01:35
possible around the circuit for roughly
00:01:37
300 kilometres on a Sunday everything
00:01:40
you see is engineered to improve
00:01:42
performance to save weight and
00:01:45
milliseconds of a lap time the materials
00:01:48
the engine the shoe famously their
00:01:53
sophisticated aerodynamics keep it
00:01:55
pinned to the road so well that it could
00:01:57
drive for the Monte Carlo tunnel upside
00:02:00
down well theoretically but the thing is
00:02:02
there's nothing superfluous on these
00:02:04
machines nothing that isn't about making
00:02:06
it faster pinning it to the road or stop
00:02:09
quickly that's what is there room for
00:02:11
luggage or a map the result a
00:02:15
thoroughbred machine that weighs about
00:02:17
half as much as a small run amount but
00:02:21
it's still a car it does the same things
00:02:24
as ordinary cars just a lot faster and
00:02:27
not more expensively and without the
00:02:29
indicators you might think that f1 cars
00:02:32
would be built around monstrous engines
00:02:34
but the engines are smaller than those
00:02:37
in many family cars just 2.4 liters the
00:02:42
secret is precision not brute force
00:02:47
and that precision is audible
00:02:51
[Music]
00:02:54
it's the distinctive sound of components
00:02:57
moving at speeds that would destroy an
00:02:59
ordinary engine the beating heart of any
00:03:03
car with an internal combustion engine
00:03:05
build a family hack whenever one car is
00:03:08
this this is the piston in the cylinder
00:03:11
we've cut the cylinder away here so you
00:03:13
can see what's happening and it starts
00:03:15
with an explosion from fuel up here
00:03:17
that's the internal combustion bit of an
00:03:19
internal combustion engine those
00:03:20
expanding gases push the piston down
00:03:23
inside the cylinder that does two things
00:03:25
by rotating the shaft at the bottom
00:03:27
firstly it sends another piston up to
00:03:29
the top ready for its explosion to
00:03:30
continue the process and that rotating
00:03:33
shaft ultimately is what drives the cars
00:03:35
wheels you can increase the amount of
00:03:38
power by increasing the number of these
00:03:40
Pistons in their cylinders and by
00:03:42
increasing the rpm the number of times a
00:03:44
minute that the piston goes up and down
00:03:45
and turns that shaft while f1 engines
00:03:49
might share the same basic design as an
00:03:51
ordinary engine a piston going up and
00:03:53
down inside a cylinder the engine in
00:03:55
your road car would literally explode if
00:03:58
it reached even half the revs that an f1
00:04:01
car is capable of the heat and pressure
00:04:03
would be too much this is how f1
00:04:08
designers engineer the solution they get
00:04:10
more out of each explosion up here
00:04:12
thanks to a huge leap forward in
00:04:15
artillery development internal
00:04:18
combustion engines are like cannons they
00:04:21
both use an explosion at one end to
00:04:23
drive something and on a tube same
00:04:26
process very
00:04:28
different effect and to get the most out
00:04:31
of your bang you must reduce something
00:04:33
called windage not good for a cannon or
00:04:36
a finely tuned engine
00:04:42
to find out why I've come to a typically
00:04:44
sophisticated and glamorous f1 location
00:04:47
with artillery expert Nick Hall so this
00:04:53
then is the point at which f1 technology
00:04:56
and military artillery history come
00:04:58
together what do we need to make it good
00:05:00
it is important to have the fit between
00:05:02
the projectile and the cylinder and in
00:05:06
the early history of artillery because
00:05:08
you couldn't bore a cylinder very
00:05:10
accurately and you couldn't make an
00:05:12
absolutely reliably spherical cannonball
00:05:15
there had to be a gap so that the
00:05:17
Cannonball wouldn't Jam and so you lost
00:05:20
power through that gap a windage gap was
00:05:24
a safety feature to ensure that a
00:05:26
cannonball didn't get stuck in the
00:05:28
barrel but that was a price to pay
00:05:32
so this is the gap between the
00:05:34
projectile the cannonball or in this
00:05:36
case the piston and the cannon itself
00:05:39
the gap around the outside yeah that is
00:05:41
the windage well I've got two
00:05:44
projectiles here two Pistons now we've
00:05:46
got one is smaller than the other one is
00:05:49
a little bit small as a bit of a gap do
00:05:51
you reckon that's sufficient difference
00:05:53
between the size on the projectiles make
00:05:56
a difference in how they perform in the
00:05:58
cannon yes I do because that that gap
00:06:02
expressed all the way around is allowing
00:06:04
a lot of pressure to escape so just that
00:06:07
tiny difference will make a difference
00:06:08
in what we see when they're fired at the
00:06:10
cannon yeah so first the smaller of the
00:06:13
two with the slight gap this should
00:06:16
affect the performance of the cannon
00:06:17
slightly but we'll make it safer which
00:06:22
is probably just as well as this is the
00:06:25
first cannon I've built ok well let's
00:06:27
load it up so yeah it's in I'd say now
00:06:34
let's charge the cannon my finally
00:06:37
machine cannon stores air up to a
00:06:39
pressure of five baths or 72 pounds per
00:06:43
square inch which when released will
00:06:46
hopefully propel the projectile down our
00:06:48
makeshift range right that cannon is
00:06:50
charged yeah I'll go on zero I can run
00:06:53
three two one go
00:06:55
okay if we're ready in three time live a
00:06:58
fighter cannon you fight a lot yeah just
00:07:01
I'll just do it quickly three two one
00:07:09
released by means of a high-tech lever
00:07:11
and rope assembly the pressure forces
00:07:14
the piston along the cylinder and into
00:07:16
the air well that's it that's a smaller
00:07:23
project so what we missed there there's
00:07:24
going Martin a very respectable 48
00:07:31
meters on our first attempt right well
00:07:37
this isn't an exercise in demonstrating
00:07:39
the effectiveness of my air cannon but
00:07:41
come on it's pretty good it's not bad so
00:07:43
that's the next slightly under sized
00:07:45
projectile hmm piston with a slight gap
00:07:49
in it around the cylinder bore which we
00:07:51
call windage this one is now a snugger
00:07:54
fit so if this were too big and you have
00:07:56
to squeeze it and it would waste energy
00:07:58
and overcoming the friction to shove it
00:07:59
out about yes but then we've got very
00:08:01
fine machining here don't we only the
00:08:04
best okay so let's put now that is it
00:08:06
there is a closer fit in fact such a
00:08:11
close fit it may me just a little
00:08:13
persuading
00:08:17
with our snugly fitting piston finally
00:08:20
in place the air pressure is built up to
00:08:23
exactly the same five bar level as the
00:08:26
previous attempt there is no windage gap
00:08:29
in this one no safety gap on my homemade
00:08:33
high pressure cabin right the cannon is
00:08:37
charged we've persuaded the projectile
00:08:39
into the barrel who's done a bit further
00:08:41
away now because I'm suddenly a bit more
00:08:43
nervous
00:08:43
no windage on this one no if I go on
00:08:46
three two one yeah okay we're ready
00:08:49
three two one Wow pretty convincing yeah
00:08:58
I agents adding more dramatic at this
00:09:00
end and that's clearly gone
00:09:03
substantially further because of that
00:09:05
tiny tiny bit less of a gap around
00:09:07
that's right
00:09:14
so exactly the same force fired it much
00:09:17
further at all because of a better fit
00:09:22
well we know it went further than the
00:09:24
previous attempt at 48 meters but by how
00:09:27
much
00:09:28
1112 so it's got an extra 12 meters from
00:09:34
48 25% increased range from just that
00:09:39
tiny tiny extra bit that close the gap
00:09:42
yep
00:09:44
so you're not wasting that pressure and
00:09:46
gaming range by better fit but I really
00:09:50
could not see the difference between
00:09:51
Zubair you can just about feel of this
00:09:53
thing Lots yeah not much more than and
00:09:55
this one is up now thing 25 percent more
00:09:58
efficient effectively it's the same
00:09:59
charge same pair of yeah that's more
00:10:01
efficient by cutting down on that
00:10:02
windage precision machining meant
00:10:06
Gunners didn't have to allow for windage
00:10:08
all thanks to one John Wilkinson known
00:10:12
in his day as iron mad Wilkinson in the
00:10:16
late 18th century he developed the
00:10:18
cannon made two machine cannon barrels
00:10:20
very accurately and Wilkinson also
00:10:24
realized his cannon lathe could make
00:10:26
more powerful steam engines with
00:10:28
precisely aboard cylinders the same
00:10:31
principle makes f1 cars faster down the
00:10:34
streets so just that tiny difference
00:10:38
that tiny increase in size made all the
00:10:42
difference in this as a projectile out
00:10:43
of my cannon and if we think if that
00:10:46
were working as a piston in an engine
00:10:48
firing thousands of times a minute it
00:10:52
would make all the difference there as
00:10:53
well
00:10:57
f1 engines are so finely tuned and the
00:11:01
fit between the piston and cylinder is
00:11:03
so tight that you can't even start the
00:11:05
engine when cold without damaging it as
00:11:08
Mike Gascoigne an f1 technical director
00:11:11
explains so this engine right now is
00:11:13
stone cold and therefore inside those
00:11:17
cylinders the pistons are actually too
00:11:19
tight if you start those attached yeah
00:11:22
if you start this now it won't break but
00:11:24
it will wear and reduce its efficiency
00:11:27
so we have to plug in oil and water
00:11:29
heaters and we actually have them on
00:11:30
timers overnight such that they come on
00:11:33
about three hours before we get in such
00:11:36
that the engines are sitting there
00:11:37
operating temperature and then we can
00:11:39
turn them over so when you talk about
00:11:40
tolerances which is have finally how
00:11:42
closely things are engineered and made
00:11:44
in terms of size in this instance then
00:11:47
they're so tight that until they're at
00:11:48
the right temperature in their home
00:11:50
they're actually fitted together when
00:11:52
they're hot
00:11:53
so the temperature they're going to be
00:11:55
operating at that's how they fit them
00:11:58
together and this is why these things
00:11:59
end up sitting there looking at like
00:12:01
they're on life-support
00:12:02
yep we've more water being fed to them
00:12:05
and warmed oil to get on top raising
00:12:07
temperature exactly an f1 car revs to
00:12:13
18,000 up here three times what our
00:12:16
normal car manages
00:12:19
an average car produces about 200
00:12:23
horsepower and if one car belts at 800
00:12:27
my do it only gets four miles to the
00:12:30
gallon its power translates into
00:12:34
staggering straight-line speed and that
00:12:37
is a problem a jumbo jet takes off at
00:12:46
290 kilometres an hour an f1 car can
00:12:49
exceed that speed 200 times during a
00:12:53
race sometimes fast cars behave like
00:12:57
players
00:13:07
Manfred Winkelhock was lucky to walk
00:13:09
away from this famous crash in Germany
00:13:12
in 1980 it's all to do with the
00:13:20
aerodynamic shape of the car get it
00:13:22
wrong and it takes off get it right and
00:13:26
you win races
00:13:29
[Music]
00:13:35
- an ancient much slower and much
00:13:39
quieter vehicle the sailing boat Formula
00:13:43
one cars can keep all four wheels on the
00:13:45
ground the same principle that allows
00:13:47
Mariners to sail into the wind allows f1
00:13:50
cars to pin the wheels to the tarmac and
00:13:52
corner faster
00:13:55
sailing in the direction the wind is
00:13:57
blowing is relatively easy hold up a
00:14:00
sail and you'll be blown along sailing
00:14:04
into the wind is more difficult
00:14:08
more than two thousand years ago Arabian
00:14:11
sailors mastered the trick by changing
00:14:14
the shape of their sails a triangular
00:14:18
sail was the solution because it's a
00:14:21
kind of wing as aerodynamicist fil
00:14:24
Roubini explains I fell I'm kind of
00:14:27
familiar with the concept of a wing that
00:14:30
it generates lift but how is a sailor
00:14:32
than anyway like a wing they're
00:14:34
completely different
00:14:35
well they look different yes but if you
00:14:37
think about a wing you know that a wing
00:14:39
will fly on an aeroplane and so to keep
00:14:42
this wing in the air we need a force
00:14:44
pushing up and that force is generated
00:14:47
from the air when it flies over the wing
00:14:49
the arrow Falls shape creates low
00:14:52
pressure above the wing and it rises the
00:14:56
same principle helps sailors ancient and
00:14:58
modern the Arabian sailors 2,000 years
00:15:03
ago effectively invented the wing that
00:15:06
we're using nowadays on aeroplanes
00:15:08
now think of sailing boat the sail now
00:15:13
looks a little bit like a wing and as
00:15:15
this as the sailing boat sails through
00:15:17
the water the air flows over the wing
00:15:21
like a week a sail creates an area of
00:15:24
low pressure and the boat wants to move
00:15:27
towards it effectively sideways
00:15:31
add a flat keel and the boat won't go
00:15:34
sideways but forwards into the wind and
00:15:38
that sail shape helps f1 engineers this
00:15:48
is not an f1 car but thanks to a few
00:15:52
modifications inspired by Arabian
00:15:54
sailors here in one of the world's most
00:15:57
sophisticated wind tunnels we can make
00:15:59
it behave like one fast cars use
00:16:03
aerodynamics to press themselves down to
00:16:06
make themselves seem heavier that
00:16:08
doesn't sound ideal but a heavy car is
00:16:11
less likely to take off
00:16:15
in this tunnel they have sensors to
00:16:18
weigh the car it's about a ton but that
00:16:21
should change when we unleash the small
00:16:23
hurricane they keep here
00:16:27
[Music]
00:16:35
the wind pressing down on the upside
00:16:38
down wings creates downforce you can see
00:16:42
there that's the downforce that is being
00:16:44
produced it's a minus number because
00:16:46
they the wings are pushing the car down
00:16:48
rather than pushing the car up those
00:16:50
fibers lift it - lift is pulling in town
00:16:53
that's right my arrow modifications
00:16:56
press the car into the ground good for
00:16:59
giving the tires more grit and good for
00:17:01
getting round corners
00:17:04
the wind blows at around a hundred and
00:17:06
thirty kilometers an hour but engineers
00:17:09
here can calculate what its effect would
00:17:11
be at 320 kilometers in air so this
00:17:15
screen is showing the same figures if
00:17:17
the car were running at Formula One
00:17:19
speeds and at those speeds it's telling
00:17:21
us they've now got mindless 1195 so
00:17:26
that's pushing down rather than lifting
00:17:28
up so that's that's some downfalls my
00:17:31
wings would make the car a ton heavier
00:17:34
it wouldn't take off
00:17:36
it's a significant downforce nice but
00:17:39
look at that drank figure enormous the
00:17:44
huge wings create huge drag or air
00:17:47
resistance which would slow the car
00:17:51
and f1 engineers struggle to reduce drag
00:17:54
whilst increasing downforce my car
00:17:58
probably wouldn't even reach a hundred
00:18:00
kilometres an hour unless I managed to
00:18:02
fit several Formula One engines in there
00:18:05
so ideas not practical
00:18:11
well a couple of things prove there I
00:18:14
think firstly that I'm probably not
00:18:17
gonna be employed as an aerodynamicist
00:18:19
on an f1 team anytime soon but the
00:18:22
theory does work these spoilers these
00:18:24
upside-down wings have the effect of
00:18:26
pushing the car down and making it weigh
00:18:28
twice as much as it weighs normally
00:18:31
thought occurs though cuz they really
00:18:33
are just that upside-down wings pushing
00:18:36
it down onto the road all you have to do
00:18:38
is turn them the other way up and
00:18:39
they're all the reims they'd make lift
00:18:42
and it's not often you get a full-size
00:18:44
wind tunnel to play with so guys do is a
00:18:48
favor turn them over give me the gun
00:18:53
[Music]
00:18:59
now let's see how light we can make this
00:19:03
car
00:19:08
so this is now actual lift we're looking
00:19:11
at man that's a positive number now so
00:19:14
that's showing that we've got positive
00:19:15
lift lifting the car up if my car were
00:19:19
traveling at 300 kilometres an hour it
00:19:21
would weigh a paltry 200 kilograms less
00:19:24
than a quarter of its real weight
00:19:30
so in case you were in any debt
00:19:33
aerodynamics make a huge difference to
00:19:35
how any car behaves but you wouldn't
00:19:38
need to tell that to Manfred
00:19:43
to achieve the sophisticated
00:19:44
aerodynamics of an f1 car you don't
00:19:46
simply bolt on a few spoilers every
00:19:51
single surface of the car is profiled to
00:19:54
produce the sweetest combination of
00:19:56
maximum downforce and minimum drag the
00:20:00
right answers are the difference between
00:20:02
just finishing and winning
00:20:06
according to most f1 engineers Mike
00:20:09
Gascoigne included so by aerodynamics we
00:20:15
all know instinctively you think well
00:20:17
make something pointy and it cuts
00:20:20
through the air rather than like a barn
00:20:21
door pushing out of the way and that's
00:20:23
it's kind of it well no because if you
00:20:27
want to go in a straight line and go
00:20:28
very quickly that's what you do you make
00:20:31
it very pointy very sleek so you have
00:20:33
minimum drag but unfortunately those
00:20:36
cars won't go round a corner if you want
00:20:38
to go around a corner you want to push
00:20:40
down on the tires because the more you
00:20:42
push down on the tire the more grip
00:20:45
you'll get in them look quickly we had
00:20:46
to go around the corner the classic
00:20:48
thing if you look at the grid in a
00:20:50
Formula One race and if you look at the
00:20:52
car on poles and you're 2 seconds slower
00:20:55
1.9 of that is aerodynamics
00:20:58
always
00:21:00
an f1 engineers brief is pretty simple
00:21:03
shave seconds off a lap time usually the
00:21:07
answer is also simple boost or shed
00:21:11
weight but there is another way through
00:21:14
driver psychology
00:21:16
[Music]
00:21:17
making a car faster means thinking the
00:21:21
unthinkable about what happens when
00:21:24
things go sideways literally because a
00:21:28
safe confident driver is a faster driver
00:21:30
and thanks to a jet engine f1 cars
00:21:34
protect their precious cargo
00:21:36
very well race cars by their very nature
00:21:43
go very fast and if something goes wrong
00:21:46
it goes wrong very fast
00:21:49
[Music]
00:21:53
this driver also survived because safety
00:21:57
is now so important in motorsport
00:22:02
Formula one engineers have to tread the
00:22:04
fine line between making their cars
00:22:07
light enough to be competitive but
00:22:09
strong enough to be safe
00:22:12
[Music]
00:22:13
this calls for material that is stiff
00:22:16
light and strong a stiff rigid car
00:22:19
corners faster it doesn't twist so the
00:22:22
wheels never leave the ground a light
00:22:26
car accelerates and breaks more quickly
00:22:28
and a strong car protects the driver and
00:22:32
nervous driver won't push the car to its
00:22:34
limits
00:22:36
finding stiff strong light material
00:22:39
would be the holy grail for f1 engineers
00:22:43
[Music]
00:22:46
forty years ago the aerospace wing of
00:22:48
Rolls Royce went out to do just that
00:22:51
they started work with a revolutionary
00:22:53
new material they used it for high-speed
00:22:57
fan blades in their new jet engine these
00:23:01
had to be very light and very strong
00:23:05
engine of anything
00:23:10
just like aviation engineers Formula One
00:23:13
car designers are always on the lookout
00:23:14
for lighter stronger materials and the
00:23:19
answer to their quest lies beyond these
00:23:22
doors only it's quite special stuff
00:23:25
hence the need to cover up
00:23:35
that's not surprisingly it doesn't
00:23:38
exactly look or sound like an industrial
00:23:42
revolution Factory in here it's all
00:23:44
rather clean and neat and quiet but what
00:23:47
they're making is capable of putting up
00:23:49
with some pretty rough treatment so this
00:23:57
is carbon fiber in its raw floppy state
00:24:01
and you really wouldn't think that was
00:24:02
much used for making jet engine fans or
00:24:05
Formula one cars for that matter and
00:24:07
you'd be right in this condition
00:24:11
it needs two extra elements before it's
00:24:14
ready for the track heat and pressure
00:24:18
basically you stick it in a big pressure
00:24:21
cooker a really big pressure cooker
00:24:29
[Music]
00:24:34
that is quite an open door
00:24:42
okay so select gas mark 6 and
00:24:47
wait
00:24:51
the material that emerges is lightweight
00:24:54
but incredibly tough tough enough to
00:24:58
make an f1 car
00:25:02
all carbon fiber starts its life as
00:25:05
string
00:25:07
it can be woven into cloth or made
00:25:10
straight into a high stress component
00:25:13
these carbon fiber drive shafts are
00:25:16
destined for very expensive Road cars
00:25:18
and lamang race cars manufacturers and
00:25:24
racers need to know exactly how much
00:25:26
stress a carbon fiber driveshaft can
00:25:29
take and this is the world of Chris
00:25:33
Jones a test engineer for a leading
00:25:35
manufacturer so Chris test engineer I'm
00:25:40
guessing that means you get to test
00:25:42
things to destroy yeah pretty much
00:25:45
because that's where I think you can
00:25:46
help me because I know carbon fiber is
00:25:48
used in Formula one because it's light
00:25:50
and because it's strong yeah but how
00:25:53
life is strong competitive other
00:25:55
materials and that's where you can help
00:25:56
well we got to we're about to drop
00:25:59
shafts here right this big lump of metal
00:26:04
connects the engine to the wheels okay
00:26:09
and here we got carbon-fiber equivalent
00:26:12
to the same thing so if you want to pick
00:26:13
that up and there's a way anything at
00:26:15
all but I mean obviously if carbon fiber
00:26:19
is as strong if this is as strong as the
00:26:22
steel bottom it's a no-brainer because
00:26:24
this is so much lighter
00:26:25
you'd use this but can you tell me how
00:26:29
much so can you show me how much if this
00:26:31
is as strong as that you can do that
00:26:33
what I'm asking is can we break okay
00:26:37
right this rig uses torque or twisting
00:26:41
force to test materials until they break
00:26:43
sensors can judge exactly how much force
00:26:46
it managed to cope with before snapping
00:26:49
when this is working at full tilt and at
00:26:51
full power
00:26:52
how much
00:26:53
talk can you go through its 8,000 meters
00:26:55
they can put through with this rig it's
00:26:57
really not the kind of device to catch
00:26:59
your tie in is it mother to put this in
00:27:04
perspective requires around to screw
00:27:09
into a wine cork this force is being
00:27:20
unleashed it's the plan okay so the
00:27:37
machine will be twisting around to
00:27:40
yielding already look yield there so
00:27:44
they're about to fail to any second now
00:27:46
it's about to snap really so this the
00:27:48
machine is just starting out you should
00:27:50
be able to see it necking necking yeah I
00:27:53
know what you're thinking but here it
00:27:54
means when a material gets thinner in
00:27:56
cross-section it's an indication it's
00:27:58
just about to fail
00:28:04
I think we'll stop by there that's
00:28:07
ruined I think it is yeah broken out
00:28:09
what did it make it to that got to 1376
00:28:12
newton-meters but in a new meters and
00:28:14
it's violation it's now a corkscrew it
00:28:17
is
00:28:22
yeah oh then it's something spring back
00:28:25
even though that is quite badly spoiled
00:28:28
well now we know the limits for that one
00:28:30
let's see what the carbon fiber
00:28:32
equivalent can take okay show you that
00:28:34
one in it and straight away that's a
00:28:37
reminder of how much lighter this thing
00:28:39
is lighter but in theory much stronger
00:28:45
and much more expensive two and a half
00:28:48
thousand pounds for this shaft alone
00:29:07
thank you see what can do out this one
00:29:09
right so 1376
00:29:13
is the target if it can match that it's
00:29:16
matched the much heaviest thing yes
00:29:18
that's right pile it on climbing sport
00:29:26
at seven eight is thing about this
00:29:29
machines at nine ten eleven oh we're
00:29:31
getting closer weather still went
00:29:32
thirteen its births just got to straight
00:29:35
faster and it's - there's no bleeped lee
00:29:37
blitz there's no damage the shuffle air
00:29:39
whatsoever so there's much much brighter
00:29:41
with the light of Tsongas God completely
00:29:44
howling pops what lit make it to do it
00:29:47
I hope for half an hour 1350 then it
00:29:52
weighs so much less well on the way to
00:29:54
that for two three four
00:30:00
it's just a matter what happens when it
00:30:02
goes that's what happens now give us
00:30:04
jump so it made it - it made through
00:30:08
4728 news Mason's for vets are 1330 no
00:30:12
decision and it's so much stronger than
00:30:14
the big heavy steel one and let's not
00:30:15
forget it's just made of this stuff
00:30:18
isn't it's just threads basically it's
00:30:20
just expensive realistic spensive string
00:30:22
isn't pretty that's it just that thanks
00:30:29
to a jet engine strong carbon fiber is
00:30:31
perfect for making light which means of
00:30:34
course fast cars
00:30:37
you make an f1 car the same way you make
00:30:40
a dress by following a pattern every
00:30:45
shape necessary for making all the
00:30:47
component parts is precisely cut from
00:30:50
carbon cloth including this the
00:30:55
monocoque or single shell it's the
00:30:59
cockpit for the driver
00:31:02
this ultralight shell is also the body
00:31:05
of the car itself there is no internal
00:31:09
frame
00:31:10
there's no need because the carbon fiber
00:31:12
is tough enough on its own
00:31:14
all that shields the driver is a skin of
00:31:17
carbon but that's not the only thing
00:31:23
that needs careful protection on these
00:31:25
sleek beasts
00:31:30
f1 cars were non pretty much the same
00:31:33
fuel you and I get the pumps the petrol
00:31:37
is petrol and it's highly flammable
00:31:39
that's the point of this stuff in races
00:31:43
f1 cars must now carry all their fuel
00:31:46
from the start
00:31:48
200 litres of petrol traveling at 320
00:31:52
kilometres an hour there is quite a
00:31:55
missile the tank has to be tough the
00:31:58
driver could be touched strength usually
00:32:04
has a weight penalty but in the anorexic
00:32:07
world of f1 that isn't an option and
00:32:09
thanks to a bulletproof vest the car
00:32:12
stays safe light and fast but a solution
00:32:17
f1 designers took a bit of a swerve
00:32:19
rather than build strong rigid fuel
00:32:22
tanks to withstand impacts they use
00:32:25
something that works on principles
00:32:26
closer to the wear car suspension works
00:32:28
a bit of give there and here I have a
00:32:31
water bottle and a rubber gym ball both
00:32:34
with water in them I'm going to drop
00:32:36
them both off here same height 15 metres
00:32:39
and then well we'll see the principle in
00:32:41
action the bottle first I think so it's
00:32:45
just I put over the edge really here we
00:32:47
go
00:32:50
oh yeah that didn't work
00:32:55
that'll be bad in the fuel tank right
00:33:05
that's
00:33:10
now while a 15 meter drop may not have
00:33:14
created f1 type speeds it does a fairly
00:33:17
good job of replicating the type of
00:33:19
forces a fuel tank might experience
00:33:21
during an impact a lightweight flexible
00:33:27
material that bends and absorbs impact
00:33:29
sounds ideal
00:33:31
apparently it's tricky to make something
00:33:33
flexible and strong
00:33:38
professor Paul Hogg is a materials
00:33:40
expert from Manchester University Paul
00:33:43
all I've really demonstrated that and is
00:33:45
well the solution why don't they just
00:33:47
make Formula One tanks out of rubber
00:33:49
okay so it's nice it's conformability
00:33:52
it'll put up with that sort of drop
00:33:53
loading yeah but what happens if you've
00:33:54
got something sharp that's gonna
00:33:57
puncture it it's material it's actually
00:33:59
quite weak most of the things that make
00:34:01
materials flexible tend to make them
00:34:03
weak at the same time so if you've got
00:34:05
something sharp it's gonna puncture that
00:34:07
you've got a problem okay so if it's a
00:34:08
sharp pointy impact something like let's
00:34:11
say an arrow glad you said that good
00:34:14
because over here master Archer Steve
00:34:16
Ralphs is gonna fire a flaming arrow
00:34:17
into this which is gonna be for the
00:34:19
purposes of this demonstration our fuel
00:34:21
tank
00:34:21
it's another rubber ball full of fuel as
00:34:24
you put it on the target like so Steve
00:34:28
and because our rubber ball has several
00:34:31
litres of petrol in it and we're about
00:34:33
to shoot it with a flaming arrow we
00:34:35
thought it best if we had the local fire
00:34:37
brigade sort of on standby they have a
00:34:40
lot of flaming arrow related fires in
00:34:42
Lancashire
00:34:46
Steve you reckon you can put a flaming
00:34:48
arrow in there from the man here we can
00:34:50
but Roy okay if you watch Formula One
00:34:52
you'll know this is exactly the kind of
00:34:53
thing that can happen in a racing
00:34:55
situation
00:35:00
we are flaming
00:35:12
yeah and that is why they banned
00:35:16
crossbows at racetracks whilst flaming
00:35:20
arrows aren't usually an issue during a
00:35:22
race the 230 litre fuel tank in an f1
00:35:25
car sits in between a white-hot engine
00:35:28
and a vulnerable driver any spillage and
00:35:32
you can have a file
00:35:43
possibly overkill there
00:35:53
that didn't work at all did it didn't no
00:35:55
think the rubbers just not it's flexible
00:35:57
flexible but it's just not strong enough
00:35:59
particularly when you've got that point
00:36:00
loading which could well happen and
00:36:02
that's not obviously but a piece of
00:36:04
metal could go in so how are we gonna
00:36:06
make something that is flexible enough
00:36:08
and strong enough well we've got a bit
00:36:10
of a problem there I mean we know that
00:36:12
things that make materials flexible tend
00:36:14
to make them weak and the other way
00:36:15
around if you want to make something
00:36:16
very strong becomes very rigid but we've
00:36:20
got a trick we can use in materials we
00:36:21
use just a lot and that's by making
00:36:23
things very thin and if we make a very
00:36:27
strong material into a fiber it's very
00:36:30
thin and it becomes very flexible this
00:36:31
is this is Kevlar it's a very strong
00:36:34
material it's actually very stiff
00:36:35
material but in a fiber form you can see
00:36:37
it's very very flexible like that Kevlar
00:36:42
is so resistant to puncture it's become
00:36:45
synonymous with bulletproof vests and
00:36:47
armor it was originally invented in 1965
00:36:52
by chemists Stephanie Kwolek as a
00:36:54
lightweight replacement for the steel
00:36:57
bands in tires right so this is very
00:37:03
strong stuff made very thin yeah which
00:37:06
means it's flexible that's brilliant
00:37:08
only that materials about five to ten
00:37:11
times as strong as steel yep just like
00:37:13
carbon cloth this miracle fiber is
00:37:16
stronger than steel between five and ten
00:37:19
times stronger that's why they can
00:37:23
afford to make it so thin so by making
00:37:27
something like Kevlar thin you can make
00:37:29
it flexible and strong but that was
00:37:32
obviously the first thing we got to do
00:37:35
we could turn that into some sort of
00:37:37
fabric so that we can use the material
00:37:39
to make a shape but fabric isn't gonna
00:37:42
hold the fuel in is it so we could
00:37:44
encase that in something which is still
00:37:46
flexible so we take that and we combine
00:37:49
it with the rubber the reverend kate is
00:37:51
it and we get and this this is the real
00:37:53
deal this is an actual f1 tank they've
00:37:55
lent us this it doesn't look much but
00:37:57
it's very very clever and also very
00:38:00
expensive has pans to make one
00:38:02
these and that's combining them the
00:38:04
properties of these two materials so
00:38:06
this then is stiff and strong and it'll
00:38:08
hold the fuel without it coming out it's
00:38:11
basically it's a rubber rubber matrix
00:38:12
reinforced with the Kevlar to give it
00:38:15
the strength but you need really we
00:38:17
should test this I think was you another
00:38:18
flaming arrow
00:38:19
I don't can't we need not know the
00:38:22
machete get very very expensive we've
00:38:24
been led to give it back
00:38:25
however I've devised something over here
00:38:27
that might just do the job I have
00:38:30
brought along the industrial cousin of
00:38:32
the material used in the f1 tank
00:38:34
rubberized Kevlar this is the stuff so
00:38:39
this is the Kevlar fiber inside just
00:38:41
making it strong and this is the rubber
00:38:43
in it and it's still possible but very
00:38:46
very strong combining the properties of
00:38:49
the two materials Steve we've got any
00:38:52
more flaming arrows they put heed
00:38:54
another one
00:39:16
even though it visibly deforms the
00:39:19
rubber the arrow can't pierce the Kevlar
00:39:21
the bag is never pushed the fuel never
00:39:25
leaks and the driver is safe it worked
00:39:31
it was an unusual setup but the
00:39:34
principles are exactly the same those
00:39:35
two materials working together can be
00:39:37
flexible and strong most importantly my
00:39:40
fuel is safe in that rubber ball because
00:39:42
it's quite expensive the flexibility of
00:39:46
the tank has an added benefit it can be
00:39:49
squashed to fit a tight space and I get
00:39:53
to enjoy the spectacle of two highly
00:39:55
trained engineers using talcum powder to
00:39:58
help post the crushed tank through the
00:40:00
slot in the frame the integrity of a
00:40:04
stiff strong frame would be ruined if
00:40:06
you had to cut a big hole in it be a
00:40:08
fuel tank if you need a hand at any time
00:40:10
just ask me I'm here for the most
00:40:12
ethical bits obviously so there you have
00:40:16
it F one's dirty little secret tel
00:40:19
compare
00:40:21
[Laughter]
00:40:26
thanks to combat-proven body armor f1
00:40:29
drivers know that the fuel just behind
00:40:31
their head is going to stay in the right
00:40:33
place
00:40:33
[Music]
00:40:37
[Applause]
00:40:39
and the only punctures they have to
00:40:41
worry about are in the tires tires in f1
00:40:46
are not designed to last the full race
00:40:48
distance that means they have to be
00:40:50
changed at least once during a race how
00:40:54
long does it take you to change a tire
00:40:56
15 minutes 20 in the speed obsessed
00:41:00
world of f1 that wouldn't fly Formula
00:41:04
One mechanics can change all four wheels
00:41:06
in less than 10 seconds the key is
00:41:09
having a pitstop crew drill with
00:41:11
military precision and the right tools
00:41:14
instead of four or five fiddly bolts f1
00:41:18
wheels have one massive centre locking
00:41:20
pub which can be spun off with an air
00:41:22
gun in less than a second
00:41:29
looking at and listening to an f1 car
00:41:32
you might think the only serious rocket
00:41:34
scientists and design engineer types
00:41:36
have anything to do with actually making
00:41:39
one but we must not forget the vital
00:41:41
role played by prehistoric blacksmiths
00:41:44
because the technique used to make this
00:41:46
sword also helps an f1 car flash around
00:41:49
the track
00:41:52
things that go fast tend to get hot f1
00:41:55
cars are no different some of the
00:41:59
hottest and most stressed parts on an f1
00:42:01
car are the wheels they can rotate 150
00:42:06
thousand times in a race and in case
00:42:08
breaks that can work at temperatures of
00:42:10
a thousand degrees Celsius Road cars use
00:42:15
wheels made of steel no good for f1 it's
00:42:18
too heavy and too weak so what's the
00:42:22
alternative and a material they use is
00:42:26
this magnesium which has many useful
00:42:29
properties it's also used in this that I
00:42:31
have in my hand which is well it's a
00:42:34
fire starting kit which is a worry and
00:42:42
just in case you didn't believe me about
00:42:44
this particular property of magnesium
00:42:46
and I thought it better to come away
00:42:48
from the expensive f1 car to demonstrate
00:42:51
curse scrape some magnesium off
00:42:57
next hit it with a spark here one of
00:43:03
those and you really want that in the
00:43:10
wheels of your f1 car in rare
00:43:16
circumstances such as when a puncture
00:43:19
allows the wheel to scrape along the
00:43:20
ground
00:43:21
magnesium rims can catch fire with
00:43:24
dramatic effects so why does anyone use
00:43:32
magnesium to make wheels for racing cars
00:43:36
same again magnesium is strong and light
00:43:39
on f1 cars lightweight strength wins
00:43:43
over the small risk of fire and it
00:43:45
swampers worth taking
00:43:48
magnesium is up to the stresses of rapid
00:43:50
acceleration high-speed cornering and
00:43:52
braking but to make it even stronger the
00:44:01
f1 engineers borrowed an ancient
00:44:02
technique for manipulating metal if you
00:44:08
want to shape metal you can just cast it
00:44:11
melt it and pour it into a mold as
00:44:14
modern Smith's Mike Raza and Craig Jones
00:44:16
show me and that's what we just made
00:44:37
well and it's not just simple things
00:44:48
like hammers that can be made by casting
00:44:49
either more ornate objects like my sword
00:44:53
see has cast iron really quite delicate
00:44:58
and quite clever again made by casting I
00:45:02
have dropped my sword and yeah I think
00:45:07
what I've done there is demonstrate
00:45:09
perhaps a weakness some things are best
00:45:12
made by processes other than casting
00:45:15
fortunately that can do that here as
00:45:18
well chaps broke a sword
00:45:21
yeah fortunately for clumsy swordsman
00:45:24
and f1 wheels there is another process
00:45:26
which leads to a far stronger end
00:45:29
product the ancient technique of forging
00:45:32
it's it basically if we're there working
00:45:36
the edges forging is the shaping of
00:45:40
metal using localized compressive forces
00:45:44
smacking lumps of metal repeatedly with
00:45:46
a big forging most metal aligns its
00:45:55
internal grains which makes it naturally
00:45:57
strong by contrast in cast metal the
00:46:05
grains are randomly distributed creating
00:46:08
points of potential weakness well
00:46:11
nobody's looking to Australian it for me
00:46:14
just raining out
00:46:22
[Music]
00:46:26
after many many back-breaking arm
00:46:29
wrenching hours of the forge my blood
00:46:31
sweat and tears pay off that's just
00:46:36
about perfect I did that all of that
00:46:39
obviously normally it would take
00:46:41
somebody a long time to learn how to do
00:46:42
this can you go finish mine off with a
00:46:48
little gentle buffing from my glamorous
00:46:50
assistant my sword reaches showroom
00:46:52
condition thank you very much thank you
00:46:56
and shred away my forged sword already
00:46:59
looks a lot better than my cast one it's
00:47:02
lighter is it stronger yeah clearly
00:47:06
that's a lot stronger than my car swamp
00:47:09
that's why f1 teams use forged magnesium
00:47:12
wheels forging is better than casting
00:47:16
and that's before we even consider the
00:47:18
weight because this whole sort the
00:47:20
forged one weighs less than just this
00:47:23
shattered portion of my cast one and the
00:47:28
same is true for wheels a forged wheel
00:47:31
will be lighter and stronger than a cast
00:47:34
one as you'd expect f1 teams have armies
00:47:38
of blacksmiths turning at wheels that'll
00:47:40
bring the process is somewhat more
00:47:43
industrialized as semi molten alloy is
00:47:48
crushed into shape using a force of
00:47:50
9,000 tons the grains are aligned and
00:47:53
you're left with some incredibly strong
00:47:56
wheels
00:47:58
just pray you don't get a puncher
00:48:03
everything about an f1 car is designed
00:48:05
to get it from the grid line to the
00:48:07
checkered flag as quickly as possible
00:48:09
and it's a Spellbinder for millions of
00:48:11
people all around the globe but a huge
00:48:14
chunk of that racing doesn't take place
00:48:16
out there on the track because the
00:48:18
engineers compete constantly with
00:48:20
incredible ferocity to gain just a few
00:48:22
milliseconds advantage over their
00:48:24
competitors and that means being on the
00:48:28
very cutting edge of science and
00:48:30
engineering
00:48:31
discovering technologies which end up
00:48:33
far from the race circuit almost as far
00:48:36
as Mars in fact usually technology
00:48:41
trickles down from space exploration
00:48:44
Formula one cars turned that on its head
00:48:48
yes the high-tech plastics that went
00:48:50
into the Beagle to Mars Lander came
00:48:53
thanks to formula 1 cars
00:48:58
and at the risk of overstretching the
00:49:02
metaphor they are like butterflies say
00:49:05
even in death considered objects of
00:49:08
beauty and prized by collectors and it
00:49:10
is easy to be seduced by the stark
00:49:13
functional beauty of these things by the
00:49:15
depth of craftsmanship but it is worth
00:49:17
remembering they owe their very
00:49:19
existence to some surprising engineering
00:49:21
connections the first truly accurate
00:49:24
Canon the very first week
00:49:30
a jet engine it's any second now it's
00:49:33
about snuff oh yeah there it goes body
00:49:36
armor
00:49:39
and the blacksmith's forge I love
00:49:42
medicine
00:49:44
[Music]