National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Momentum and Time
Increasing the time of a collision from a tenth of a second to two tenths of a second can make a huge difference in the number of G's a driver experiences. The car, the track, seat belts, and seat construction spread out the force of...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Firesuits
"Frightening" is how Jeff Gordon describes fire, even though he knows he's protected head to toe (and right down to his underwear) by fire-resistant Nomex fabric. Firesuits and the associated gear don't just protect drivers from fire,...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Green Revolution: Microbes
In Bruce Logan's lab at Penn State University, researchers are working on developing microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that can generate electricity while treating wastewater. They are also researching methods to increase power generation from...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Power
Think of 850 horses all lined up - that's how much power a NASCAR Sprint Cup engine has. The engine's job is to convert the energy in fuel to speed. NASCAR engines do it faster and more efficiently than passenger car engines. [4:52]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists and Engineers: Electrical Engineer
Meet Yael Maguire, an electrical engineer who loves his job at Thing Magic. Yael has been designing and building things his whole life. He develops Radio Frequency Identification technology. RFID tags have many applications in the real...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Grip
Success in auto racing depends on the grip of a car's tires. Grip is the frictional force that holds the tires on the track. Aerodynamic features of a car also improve a car's grip. [5:02]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Load Transfer
The corners of a NASCAR track are divided into three parts because the car's grip changes in different parts of the turn. A race crew must try to minimize load transfer by making adjustments based on a car's centre of gravity. [5:05]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Tires and Pressure
Tires on a car in a NASCAR race are filled with nitrogen. The force of friction increases tire pressure as the car goes around the track. Using dry nitrogen gas helps with predicting the temperature and pressure of a tire during a race....
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Balance
Getting the right balance in a race car is difficult because the weight of the fuel changes as the fuel burns off, and the tires wear down during each green-flag run. [5:16]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists and Engineers: Biogeoscientist
Learn what a biogeoscientist does as he travels in the sky at 45,000 feet above sea level, studying the Earth's atmosphere in the hope of finding new ways to battle climate change. [5:19]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Friction and Heat
Friction always creates heat. Brakes and tires depend on friction to work, while the opposite is true of an engine. Engine builders use oil and high-tech coatings to get more power from an engine. [5:25]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Drag & Drafting
Engine power is constrained at superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, so teams use aerodynamics to gain an advantage. Teams adjust their cars to minimize drag, but then it's up to the drivers to find 'the draft' and to trust the...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Science of Speed: Car Safety
Conservation of energy explains how this NASCAR race car driver was able to walk away from a horrific crash in 2008. See how the design of the car enabled it to absorb and transform kinetic energy, and protect the driver from injury. [5:30]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists and Engineers: Biophysical Chemist
Learn about the career of Rommie Amaro, a biophysical chemist, what the work involves, the other professionals she works with, and what she had to study in order to develop this career. [5:32]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Green Revolution: City Car
Lisa Van Pay of the National Science Foundation meets with Will Larkin, an MIT graduate student working on the CityCar project. The project envisions their work helping to solve urban problems with pollution and congestion. The car can...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists and Engineers: Virtual Reality Scientist
Meet Jurgen Schulze, a virtual reality scientist who designs virtual worlds and models for researchers looking for new treatments for diseases, for doctors performing complex surgery, and for scientists studying the brain. Jurgen talks...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Green Revolution: Hydrogen
Lisa Van Pay of the National Science Foundation visits scientists at MIT as they take on the hydrogen energy challenge. Hydrogen bonds are an extremely efficient way to store energy, and scientists would like to capture this energy....
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists and Engineers: Chemical Engineer
Meet Anita Kalathil, a chemical engineer at Proctor & Gamble. She talks about her work in developing fabric care products for the marketplace, and machinery to manufacture them, as well as the importance of environmentally friendly...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Green Revolution: Green Roofs
A green roof can certainly make a building look nicer, but can it measurably lower energy requirements and improve water management? At Penn State University, engineer Jelena Srebric and horticulturist Rob Berghage are working together...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists and Engineers: Exercise Scientist
Meet Beth Mooradian, an exercise scientist at the Gatorade Sport Science Institute. She discusses her work with athletes and how rewarding she finds it. [6:30]
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Green Revolution: Electric Vehicles
Lisa Van Pay of the National Science Foundation visits the scientists and engineers working to make the electric car of the future a reality today. They explain their work on the biggest problem, which is storing enough potential energy...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists and Engineers: Materials Engineer
Meet Carlos Barrios, a materials engineer, who shows us some of the latest engineering projects taking place at 3M. His work in adhesives can have applications to such diverse areas as medicine, sports, aerospace, and electronics. He...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Green Revolution: Biomass
Fuel can be produced from different types of biomass, such as algae and cellulose. These scientists are building an algae reactor, learning how leafcutter ants convert cellulose into sugar, and turning the waste from a sawmill into...
National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation: Profiles of Scientists and Engineers: Biochemist
Meet Roselle Rojas, a biochemist at Gatorade's Sport Science Institute. She works with athletes studying and analyzing their biochemistry. She talks about what she finds rewarding about her career, and what she had to study in order to...