Move It key objects
Autogyro
What is it?
Autogyros are small aircraft which were designed to be used like
cars. The Weir W-2 autogyro that you can see in the gallery, was
designed and built in Scotland. It first flew in 1934.
Background information
An autogyro (also called a gyroplane or gyrocopter) is an aircraft
that resembles a helicopter and combines flight principles from
both helicopters and planes.
Like a helicopter it has a spinning rotor to provide lift.
However, unlike the helicopter where an engine powers the spin of
the rotors, in an autogyro it is the movement of air past the rotor
that causes it to spin.
This is a similar principal to sycamore seed pods that have 'two
wings' . As the seed pod starts to fall it begins to spin. The air
movement over the wings keeps them spinning and creates lift,
raising the seed pod. Therefore the seed pod stays in the air
longer than it would if it had no wings.
Like an aeroplane the autogyro needs a separate power source to
propel the aircraft forward. Usually an engine-powered propeller is
used. As the autogyro is propelled forward, the air moving over the
aircraft spins the rotor which provides the lift.
They are more manoeuvrable, can fly slower, take off and land in
smaller spaces than planes; fly faster than helicopters and, if the
engine fails, the rotor continues spinning until the aircraft is on
the ground.
The autogyro made it on to the big screen in the Bond film "You
Only Live Twice". The yellow autogyro "Little Nellie" designed by Q
was heavily fortified with arms. Gyroplanes are still being
developed and may become a form of everyday transport in the
future.
Formula One car
What is it?
This Stewart-Ford car was raced in the 1998 Grand Prix season. The
Stewart team was set-up by Scottish three times World Motor Racing
Champion Sir Jackie Stewart and his son Paul.
Background information
Formula One racing (also know as Grand Prix racing) is based around
a worldwide series of races on purpose built tracks or closed off
streets. Based on European Grand Prix motor racing of the 1920s and
30s the first Formula One drivers championship was held in
1950.
Jackie Stewart, a three times World Motor Racing Champion, was
born in Dumbartonshire in 1939. Jackie Stewart's racing career was
celebrated by Robbie Williams in his song “Supreme”.
Formula One racing cars are a very different shape to normal
cars because they are designed to go much faster. For example, the
tyres are much wider and slicker (less ridges) than normal tyres.
This is to increase the contact between the tyre and the road.
Friction between the road and a car's tyres is necessary to keep
the car on the road, especially when travelling at high speeds.
Streamlining lowers the air resistance, that is the amount of
friction between the air particles flowing over the car and the
car's surface. Like friction between the tyres and the road, air
resistance slows cars down.
However, an F1 car uses air resistance to keep it pushed down
onto the track because it is travelling so fast. The shape of the
front wing is designed partly to maximize down force on the car,
improving control between the car and the track.
The design of an F1 car is carefully balanced to maximise the
benefits of friction and air resistance without being slowed down
by them too much.
Wylam Dilly Locomotive
What is it?
This is one of the world’s two oldest surviving locomotives. It was
built in 1813 and was used to pull coal along the Wylam Wagonway to
the river, near Newcastle upon Tyne.
Background information
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the power to move
the train along the tracks. Wylam Dilly is one of the first railway
locomotives which were powered by steam from initially burning
wood, then coal or petroleum.
Steam engines use the heat produced from burning fuel to heat
water in a boiler. The water boils producing steam that expands
pushing against a piston or turbine. The movement of the piston is
used to turn wheels or drive machinery. Steam turbines are still
used today for electrical power generation.
Move It key interactives
Air track
What is it?
An air track and a model train track sit side by side. You can
compare the tracks by pushing a train along each one. Can you work
out why the air track train travels much further?
Background information
Engineers are continually innovating to enable us to travel
further, faster and more efficiently. Friction is a force which
opposes movement. Friction between the track and the train slows
the train down and eventually stops it. Controlling friction
increases the train's efficiency, enabling it to go faster and
further for the same amount of energy.
Friction occurs when particles/surfaces rub against each other.
Rough surfaces generate more friction than smooth surfaces because
the rough surfaces catch on each other more. The air track puts a
cushion of air between the track and the train which reduces
friction between the two surfaces. If there was no friction, an
object could continue to move forever.
Learning outcomes
- Friction causes moving objects like trains to loose speed
- Without friction a moving object would continue to move forever
(Newton's 1st law).
Design for speed
What is it?
Design your own racing car.
Test your design in a virtual ‘wind tunnel’ and then test drive the
car. What is your speed score? And how easy is your design to
control?
Remember, the fastest car doesn’t always have the most. You need
a combination of speed and control.
Background information
Engineers are continually innovating to enable us to travel
further, faster and more efficiently.
Friction occurs when particles/surfaces rub against each other.
Friction is a force which opposes movement. Rough surfaces generate
more friction than smooth surfaces.
Friction between the road and a car’s tyres is necessary to keep
the car on the road, especially when travelling at high speeds, but
too much friction can slow the car down.
How streamlined a car is depends on its shape. The more rounded
and smooth the outside of the car is the easier it is for air to
flow over the car. This is called streamlining. Streamlining lowers
the air resistance -- that is, the amount of friction between the
air particles flowing over the car and the car's surface.
The streamlining of an F1 car is mainly down to the front wing,
the back wing and the way the air flows between these wings.
The shape of the front wing is designed not only to maximize
down force (and hence control between the car and the track) but
also to direct airflow towards the rear. Note that the airflow
underneath the car is just as important as the air going over the
top.
Learning outcomes
- Friction slows moving objects down.
- Streamlining lowers air resistance.
- Controlling friction and streamlining increases a car's
efficiency enabling it to go faster for the same amount of
energy.
F1 test drive
What is it?
This computer interactive lets
you get behind the wheel of a Formula One car. You need to control
it with the steering wheel and brake.
Being the fastest to get round the track isn't simply a question
of pressing down on the accelerator and steering.
Understanding the physics involved in driving helps to safely
negotiate the track.
Background information
When your car is moving, the main forces acting on your car are the
force moving it forward (engine power) which is opposed by
frictional and air resistance forces. When your car is travelling
at a constant speed, these forces acting on your car are
balanced.
When you are accelerating the engine power moving your car
forward is greater than the frictional and air resistance forces.
When your car slows down the forces opposing movement, including
breaking, are greater than the force moving the car forward.
Understanding cornering is essential to winning. On the
straights, the race is determined by the power of the engine and
brakes. However, to negotiate the corners you need to master the
'traction circle', which depends on the frictional force between
the tyres and the road.
To make the most of the available tyre grip you need to use a
combination of breaking, turning and acceleration. If you
under-steer the front tyres loose their grip and the car runs
wide.
If you over-steer the back tyres lose their grip and the back
end of the car skids and tries to overtake the front. To win the
race, you need to balance control on the corners with speed on the
straights.
Learning outcomes
- Physics is not just a subject that you study in class.
- To be a successful racing driver you need to know about
physics, especially speed, acceleration and forces (including
friction).
How Green do you travel?
What is it?
How do you travel to school or work? How do you travel on
holiday?
See how you compare with other visitors and find out about how
you can travel in a ‘greener’ way.
Background information
Transport affects the way we live and work and it affects the
environment in which we live. Many forms of transport cause
pollution and most produce carbon dioxide gas (a product of burning
carbon-based fuel, e.g. petrol). Carbon dioxide is often called a
greenhouse gas.
Carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere allows sunlight through
the atmosphere (which warms up the Earth) but stops heat from
escaping back out into space. Too much carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere means the Earth gets hotter and
hotter – this is called global warming. Global warming may be
responsible for changing weather patterns across the world.
Some methods of transport are more environmentally friendly than
others (e.g. produce less carbon dioxide and other pollution). How
we choose to travel can affect the amount of carbon dioxide we are
responsible for in the atmosphere.
Learning outcomes
- The way we use transport in our everyday lives affects the
environment.
- We have the power to make more "environmentally friendly"
personal choices or put pressure on local and national government
to supply more environmentally friendly options.