A Grand Prix: The Science of F1 Racing!

We just got a brand new item in stock and our shop.

Introducing, the state of the art never before seen herd or wanted jar of birds.

What?

“Do you or a loved one enjoy the smell of a fresh tooth?”

No! Well then you're not going to like this. Each while in the world jar of birds, features the latest vacuum sealing technology to preserve the tooth's original odor. So your nose will be so full of sulfur the second year sniffer gets a width of it. Mindy, this is gross! No one's going to want to buy this!

That's exactly what Market Research said, but I think. Wait a minute, what's today's date? It's April 1st, isn't it? April fools, Guy Rossey. So we're not selling jars of tuts?

Of course not, but we do have some stem toys that tuts too. Mindy! Like a wow in the world, high-flying air rocket. It's got a tooth nozzle for when you want to let a rip.

And our wow in the world, amazing human body kit comes with a tooth whistle too.

And not to chewed our own hornier, but we've got lots of stem toys that will wow the kids in your life who love science and the ones who don't. Yet! grownups visit tinkercast.com/shop to shop the wow now that's tinkercast.com/shop now back to the show. [music]

I don't know what you've been told, we're in a golden age, so many scufferies and a jump in off the page. [music] What in the world? It sounds like it's coming from Mindy's house. Weird, logarithmic mind.

[music] Mindy! Don't worry little tomato plants, I'll be right back. [music] What in the bambi?

[music] Mindy, what is happening in their eye? Get barely here myself, Mindy. What? I said, I can barely hear myself, Mindy.

Sorry everyone, I'm going to have to talk louder. I can't hear you over all the noise. Mindy!

“Can you turn the volume down in those power tools in there?”

Okay, that's better. Now, what are you saying, guys? I was asking what's going on in here, Mindy. It looks like a mechanics workshop, tires, power tools, and is that a race car? Yeah, actually, it is a race car, guys, but not just an old race car.

What you're looking at is a state-of-the-art formula one racing car. And why exactly do you have a formula one race car in your living room, Mindy? Oh, because of this, here, read it. The 25th annual DIY homemade go-car, Derby? That's right, I got my car, I got my pit crew, and most importantly, I have a driver.

She's waiting for us down at the starting line.

“And why are you bringing a high-powered, technologically advanced race car to a local homemade go-car-turby?”

Okay, well, it wasn't my first choice, believe me.

I wanted to take it to the Austin Grand Prix this year, but apparently they don't just let random people with cars that they built in their gingerbread mansions enter the race. So, we went for the next best thing. The local go-car-turby?

Back up, oh, why did you want to enter an F-1 race to begin with, Mindy?

“Well, because a race car race is basically just one big science fair.”

It is? Oh, yeah, these crews have entire teams of scientists behind them trying to make the fastest cars on the planet. And this bad boy can get up to 230 miles per hour. Wow, that's like 375 kilometers an hour. Yeah, and you got to master like three different things to make a car that will run that fast.

Three different things, oh, what are they?

Okay, well, the first is aerodynamics.

Oh, of course aerodynamics and the study of how air moves around things and how those things move through the air. Exactly, and how these cars move through the air is they race around the track, effects how fast they go. How? Well, aerodynamics affects the car in three different ways. Drag, downforce, and lift.

Well, I know a drag is a drag is the force that slows things down as they move through the air. Yeah, like when you ride a bike real fast and the wind turns your t-shirt into a little parachute that holds you back. That is drag. So, what's downforce? Well, it's exactly what it sounds like.

It's the force that pushes down on something as it moves through the air. Like when you put your hand out of a car window and tilt it slightly in the wind pushes it down. You got it? That's downforce. It's what these little fins the back of the car are doing.

They're angled slightly down and they push the car down into the road helping it stick to the track as it races around the corners. Ah, and lift is the opposite of downforce? Exactly. Lift is what airplanes use to fly.

Basically, their wings are angled slightly upwards and this creates lift that can help them launch into the air.

But in a race car, you certainly don't want to go flying. Nope. When you're in a race car, you want to be stuck to the race track. Oh, hey, red, can you get that? So in terms of aerodynamics, you want to reduce the amount of drag on the car.

Because it slows you down. And you want to increase the downforce and decrease the lift. Yes, in order to keep the race cars stuck to the track. And there you have it. The aerodynamic principles of race car design.

“Wow, so what are the other two things you need to make a race car other than aerodynamics?”

Oh, that thought I rise. What is it, Redge? What did he want? Why are we waiting for? Come on, let's kick going.

What is it, Mindy? That was the race organizer. He said that if we're not at the starting line in the next 10 minutes, they're going to start without us. Well, then we should get a move on, Mindy. All right, Redge, open the door.

It's time to wrangle the cats. The cats? You can't get a kitty kitty kitty kitty kitty. Huh? Oh, you're scratching me.

What the world are we doing, wrangling cats? How are we supposed to get the car to the starting line, Guy Ross? By driving it ourselves? No time, Guy Ross. I'll be getting these late cats into their harness.

Help me. No, no. Okay, one more. Gotcha. All right, that should hold him.

So why exactly is that going, Guy Ross?

“Did you just strap all the slay cats to the front of the race car?”

Well, yeah, wasn't going to strap him to the back. Come on, Guy Ross. He got race to get to. You two, Redge. Okay.

All right, hold on tight. He. Hey, baby. Mindy, is this really safe? Yes, it's not safe, Guy Ross.

Hurry up. Where even is this race anyway? Same place it is every year. Right down Main Street. Starting at the knuckle high.

He's mad at me. Other direction. Whoops, yep, you're right. Perfect. All right, everyone turn it around.

Oh, no. Sorry, everyone. I still don't understand why we couldn't have driven there, Mindy. Well, Guy Ross, the engine on this car is super duper small. We got to conserve it for the big race.

Wait a minute, Mindy. This race car goes 230 miles an hour, but it has a small engine.

Yeah, that's the second thing that makes a race car a race car.

A small, but mighty engine. In fact, the engine in this car is only 1.6 liters. 1.6 liters. That's the sort of engine you'd find in a teeny, tiny car. You take to the supermarket and back.

But this teeny tiny engine is super charged.

What do you mean? Well, despite being so small, it can output 1,000 horsepower. And that's good? Oh, yeah, it's better than good Guy Ross. I mean, just think about your bike.

Huh? Pedaling your bike only generates about 0.25 horsepower. We're talking 1,000 horsepower here. Uh-huh. And a lawnmower only around 5 horsepower.

Okay. And a regular old car? That's only going to get you about 200 horsepower. And this car generates 1,000? Yeah.

Wow. So, despite being smaller than a lot of car engines, this race car engine is able to generate 5 times as much power. Exactly. What do I say?

Small, but mighty. Sorry about that. Yeah. It's low there. Can I help you?

Let's do that. Stop that. Sorry about that. Um, we're here for the race. Ah.

Yeah, suppose you are. The 25th annual DIY homemade GoCard Derby. Uh-huh.

“Well, you know that cat powered vehicles are strictly prohibited, right?”

Oh, don't worry. This vehicle is 100% self-sufficient. No cat's necessary. And it is homemade in DIY. Yep.

Okay. Well, you can't bring the cats in with you either. Two of the drivers are very allergic. Why? I'll send them home.

Okay. Come here, cats. Ah. Stop it. I'm trying to open your hands.

Ah. It's everyone. Get out of here. Thank you. All right.

Your race is up next.

You'll be starting in third position.

And I believe your driver is already waiting for you. Good luck. Thank you. Hey. You.

Is that a cat? Hey. She's already here. Wait. You have a driver?

Oh, yeah. She's the best. You're going to love her. Come on. Help me push this car to the start line.

Push the car out. Are we supposed to do that? It's got a thousand horsepower engine. We only have two people in a pigeon. Hmm.

“Well, that's the third thing you need to make a race car, Guy Ros.”

It's got to be light as a feather. Really? Yeah. Watch me push this thing. Yeah.

Pretty cool, huh? Wow. That looked super easy, Mindy. What did I tell you? Light is a feather.

It really is, Mindy. Let me have a try. Wow. I bet Rich. You could push this thing all by himself if you really wanted to.

Hmm. How is this car so light? Well, this is what a lot of teams spend their time developing in the lab. Lighter materials to make their cars out of. Ah, you being there.

A lot of material scientists. People who study what things are made of and why they behave the way they do. Yeah. And these race car teams spend millions of dollars trying to develop and design materials that are not only super light, but super strong too.

And the lighter the car is, the less the engine has to work to push it around the track and the faster it'll go. Exactly. What are you doing? Oh, hey, look. There's the starting line.

Now what spot were we again? Oh, three. Thanks, Rich. All right, everyone. Ready?

And what? Look at all these other go-carts, Mindy. Yeah. They look very DIY and homemade. I'll say they're all made out of plywood and cardboard with tiny little engines.

And now we've got a 1000 horsepower F1 race car. Say we've got this one in the bag. It just seems a little unfair. You think that's unfair? What do you mean our driver?

Oh, look, there she is. Hey, over here. Grandma G-Force. Grandma G-Force? Yeah.

She's to race back in the day.

“What if one two if they allowed cat tower vehicles?”

What in the-- Well, well, well. If right, Mindy and Garage. Oh, hello, Pigeon. Grandma G-Force.

We've got your race car. Ta-da! Nice. Now how many cat power she got. Oh, no cat tower.

But it does have the three things that make up an F1 car. Oh, yeah. What's that? Aerodynamics.

A small, powerful engine.

And it's light as a feather. Light as a feather, you say. Well, let me see. Oh, yeah. She's light as a feather all right.

All spectators. Please step up the race track. All non-drivers. Please leave the race track immediately. The race is about to begin.

Well, that sounds like our Q to leave. Guess we'll see you on the other side. Reggie says good luck. Yeah, made it.

Let's get off the track and into the stands.

Great. Behind you, Mindy. Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk. Through the gate.

“All right, does everyone have a good view of the track?”

Cool. Yep. Okay. Here we go. Drivers.

Start your engines. On your marks. Get set. Go! Go, go, go!

Well, in the world, we'll be right back. We'll be right back. This message is for you. You're listening. Bongo in the big two.

In the morning on KWOW. Hey, Bongo. Guess what time it is.

Looks to be about 7.40 a.m.

No, it's time for big two's big favorites. Oh, yeah. The part of the show in you. Big two. Hit us with your favorite.

New song. What you got for us today? All right.

“Today's big favorite is a song from a new artist called "WOW in the World."”

Well, what's the song? It's called. The scientifically most danceable song in the whole wide world. Wow, that's a big title. Yeah.

Let me spin you up a clip. Wow. The song is typically most danceable song in the world. Oh, a wide world. The song typically most danceable danceable song.

Oh. Wow. Two. That was totally rocking. Maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe.

Yeah. Where can we listen to the rest of the song? Anywhere you get your tunes, Bongo. They're out on Spotify. Apple music.

For wherever you like to spin your tracks. Well, thanks for tuning in to Big Two's Big Favorite. Here on Bongo in the Big Two. In the morning on KWOW. Bye-bye now.

Later. Hey, Bowser fans. Mindy here. And before we start the show. Oh, sorry about that.

I forgot to put it on silence. Hey.

Wait a second. It's an email from us.

Check it out, Red. Let's see here.

“It says, "We've got episode recommendations.”

Go to read STEM activities to try out at home. The latest news about what's happening at Tinkercast. Pretty bonkerballs, huh? Here, I'll help you sign up. So you and the grownups will just go to tinkercast.com/email and put in your first

and last names and email address. Wait, Reggie. I just realized I don't know your last name. Really? Is that what the silent G or a silent cute?

Who knew? Let's see here. Oh, and you're not a robot, right? Sorry. Just have a double check.

Okay, you are all signed up. Grownups. You can sign up for our Tinkercast newsletter too. It's full of ideas on how to get some extra, wow, to your family's life. Visit tinkercast.com/email to sign up today.

That's tinkercast.com/email. That's it. And now let's get on with the show. That's it. Back to the show.

Runnin' the world. Hi, thanks for calling while in the world. After the beep, get ready to record. Hi, my name is Charlotte. I am from Monterey, California.

And my well in the world is up. I believe you do not have some x. Isn't that crazy? Say hi to Thomas Kiffingerlands. Zoom.

Grandma G4. Woo! Dennis. Hi there. Reggie.

And Colonel Toot's thunder paws. Hi. I'm Elena. And I'm Holmes, we're from Charleston, South Carolina. It all around fact is that if you went in space,

the sun would be white. Make sure to say hi to Reggie. And baby Dennis for us. Bye. Hi, my name is Garals.

My name is Logan and I'm from British Columbia, Canada. And I'm 13 years old. My well in the world is that horses and cows can treat while standing up stretch.

Say hi to Reggie.

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And they use crushed eggshells and ashes to do it. Hi. I'm Oliver from Sacramento, California. And my well is that there are over 4,000 types of labels. I want to say hi to Grammar G4 with FreakFabby Dennis and Thomas Fingerling.

Oh, nice. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hi.

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My name is HHS and I'm from East London, America.

My well in the world is that apples are in the rich family. They have since Reggie, Thomas Fingerling, and Grammar G4 pushed her knee. Please. Hi. Hi.

Hi. Hi, my name is Iris. My name is Theo, and I'm from Gil. And we live in Delne and Nova Scotia.

“And our well is that everybody thinks because of bacteria.”

Bacteria live on your feet and eat dead skin cells and oils that come out of your skin. When your feet get hot and sweaty, more bacteria grow to get rid of their waste, they put out an acid and that acid stinks. But the next time someone tells you your feet things, you can tell them it isn't you. It's bacteria.

They hide a dentist, turn up to the underposs. Peace and Reggie. Oh, hi there. Bye. End of messages.

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Once again, that's tinkercast.com. "Wow in the world is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kelkin with contributions from me." Guy Ross. Original sound design and music editing is done by Tyler Tholl, with help from our senior production director, Jed Anderson,

an audio producer, Henry Moscow. You can also hear Jed Anderson and the voices of Dennis, Thomas Fingerling, Reggie, and many of the other silly characters you hear on our show. Jessica Bodie keeps our fact straight as our fact checker. Steph Sosa keeps our heads on straight as our executive producer,

and merit of helping ranzer powers the "Wow" at tinkercast. Our theme song was composed and performed by three-time Grammy nominees, The Puppups, find them at thepuppups.com. Special thanks to our team, including Kristen Gang, Twemack, Ali Paxima, Linda Rothenberg, and Anna Zagorsky,

in all of the other tinkercast HQ. "Gronaps, you can follow "Wow in the World" on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @Wow in the world, and our email address is hello at tinkercast.com. Thanks for listening.

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