Video Project Ideas
Word Count: 755
1. Physics of Formula 1
2. Kanye West
3. How Machine Learning Works
4. How Artificial Intelligence Works (and why it's similar but different from Machine Learning)
5. How joining the board of a cultural/social organization changed me
Formula 1 is the leading edge in thermodynamics, aerodynamics, and mechanical engineering. Hours are spent tweaking parts of the car to improve lap times by mere milliseconds to gain an edge over other teams. I want to explain the basics of a car and ramp up to more complex aspects like the aerodynamics and explain how Formula 1 helps the everyday person. I love all things cars and I think knowing how the world around you works and how it came to be is incredibly interesting so I thought this would be a great topic to make a video on. I'd begin with the basics of everyday cares, how the engine works, brakes, etc. and move onto explaining how some of these trickled down from Formula 1 over the decades. I'd also explain why Formula 1 cars look so strange, and future technologies to come from this era of Formula 1 cars. I understand that this topic is a little complex but I think it's good to be curious and learn about things people use everyday. This might help them understand why their car is broken or just be interesting and new information. I first found interest in physics, astrophysics, mechanical engineering, and then onto cars. From there I became curious as how cars worked and then why Formula 1 cars look the way they do. The purpose of this video is again, to educate and inspire people to be more curious of the world that surrounds them.
To start I would explain the basic engine accompanied with an animation or video of how a piston works.
The basics of how a car works is something called Atkinson Cycle. Engines today are more efficient because of this cycle, however sacrifice power. Types of engines that use this cycle are called 4 stroke engines because the cycle consists of 4 stages. The first is the intake stroke where a fuel and air mixture is brought into the cylinder. The piston starts at the top and ends at the bottom, creating a suction force to pull in the fuel air mixture from an open valve. The second stage is compression where the valves close and the piston compresses the mixture to increase efficiency before ignition. The third stage is ignition, where the power comes from, and the piston moves back down to the bottom. The fourth stage is exhaust where the exhaust valve opens and the piston moves back to the top. This process happens continuously while your car is running and across different pistons.
Some examples of technology trickling down to modern day cars is the exposed steel brake disc. In the 24 hour LeMans race, the Jaguar Type C used the first reliable steel brake disc which made way for the different type of brake discs used today in modern cars. Most Formula 1 cars are made mostly out of carbon fiber because of its lightweight and sturdy properties which has made its way to modern sports cars. Aerodynamics has also vastly improved because of Formula 1, increasing fuel efficiency, improving power, and creating sleeker looking cars.
A new technology recently introduced to a streetcar is a performance hybrid engine. Hybrids like the prius are fuel efficient, however in Formula 1 engines became hybrid to overcome fuel restrictions and create more powerful engines. The Energy Recovery System or ERS consists of three parts. The Motor Generator Unit (MGU-K and MGU-H) and an Energy Store. The K in MGU-K stands for Kinetic which converts kinetic energy from braking into electricity. The H in MGU-H stands for Heat which converts heat from exhaust gases into energy. This energy can be used to speed up the turbo or to add more power to the engine. The recent McLaren P1 used this technology as an ultimate street legal track car, complete with an all electric mode as well. The BMW i8 uses this as well but to a much lesser degree.
This is a rough outline of some of the things I want to talk about regarding Formula 1 and its physics.
Formula 1 physics
- Engine
- Turbo vs supercharger
- Intercooler and filters
- Brakes
- Heat escape to tires
- Aerodynamics
- Vortices
- Rear wing
- Front wing
- Wake of tires
- Diffuser
- KERS
- MGU-H
- MGU-K
- Turbo lag and extra hp
- Tires
- Dry compounds
- Wet compounds
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Dear Sam,
ReplyDeleteI like how you have focused your idea early on, and I also like that you have chosen a topic your passionate about. Both of these things will help you to figure out where to go next. Okay, so to help you shape your video essay project, consider the following:
1. Is there a larger metaphor here that can help the lay person (someone like me who doesn't understand physics or cars), understand what this is like? In other words, are there parallels you can draw between the ideas you're going to explore related to cars and something that provides a bigger picture about life? You would have to think of it like: The aerodynamics of cars are similar to falling in love for these three reasons...Or, the relationship between physics and Formula 1 cars is similar to surviving your first year in college in these three ways...Get what I mean? Your average person does not share your passion for Formula 1 cars and physics, and so you'll have to figure out why we should care, and part of that is because you will find a way to relate it to something more universal.
2. Similarly, think about the ways in which you will keep this visually interesting. You have outlined some pretty specific details, and your viewer will stick with you if they are visually engaged with your story. Keep the language and the images in layperson terms so that the average person can follow along.
3. Next step is to consider how you might focus in even more tightly on this idea. So, for example, is there enough content there to focus just on hybrid cars and how they are the wave of the future? You know so much more about this topic than the average person, and that's a good thing, because now you can narrow in on a particular niche of this niche to capture the viewer's interest.
Good luck--I look forward to seeing how you will develop these initial ideas.