Tag Archives: science

Science

What Influence Did Inventor James Watt Have On Steam Engines & The Industrial Revolution?

According to the Scottish Science Hall of Fame, his affect started whereas repairing a mannequin Newcomen steam engine in 1764, at which level he could not assist however discover how a lot steam it wasted within the course of, with the cylinder needing to often be reheated, in the end utilizing up loads of coal. Watt figured a separate steam condenser might make sure the cylinder remained sizzling, and partnered with inventor John Roebuck, producing a prototype in 1768. The extremely environment friendly patent was given the non-efficient identify “A New Invented Method of Lessening the Consumption of Steam and Fuel in Fire Engines.”

As this redesign started to garner consideration from copper, tin, coal, and iron mines round England, two additional developments helped crystallize his influence on engine effectivity. First was the rotary engine, an innovation which used rotary motion to exchange the reciprocating, up-and-down piston motion of the unique. It helped modernize corn, malt, and cotton mills, amongst others, and was used to exchange “animal and water power and mechanized industries like weaving and spinning.”

Car Accessories

Do Rear Spoilers Really Make A Difference In Downforce?

Aerodynamics is the science of how air flows around an object, especially when that object is in motion. Why is it important in the automotive world? Because wind resistance can heavily affect a car’s acceleration, handling, and fuel economy. Ideally, you’d want to design a car that allows air to flow along its curves and edges as smoothly as butter, to minimize wind resistance. With that in mind, rear spoilers are meant to do two critical things: increase downforce and reduce drag.

Tire grip and traction are critical factors in a car’s handling. Especially for performance-oriented cars, you need to create more downforce to keep the tire securely stuck to the tarmac. The easy solution is to add more weight to the car to prevent it from sliding away at high speeds. However, added weight directly affects the car’s acceleration and sabotages the handling in other ways. Instead, engineers have come up with spoilers to take care of downforce at high speeds.

A spoiler creates a surface that redirects the wind. As the wind hits the surface and goes up, the spoiler pushes down on the car; this is Newton’s third law of motion. The faster the car goes, the more noticeable the effects of a rear spoiler will be. For example, the McLaren Senna GTR’s massive rear wing is a chief instance of a well-engineered aerodynamic piece that creates a lot of downforce.

Moreover, spoilers are used to scale back drag. Drag is air’s pure resistance towards an object in movement. Rear spoilers enable vehicles to chop by means of drag and scale back the turbulence that comes with it.

Science

This Vibrating Capsule Could Assist In The Ways We Treat Obesity

The breakthrough weight problems management capsule was revealed in a research revealed within the Science Advances journal, the place a workforce of researchers led by Dr. Shriya Srinivasan, assistant professor of bioengineering at Harvard University, evaluated its efficacy on 10 Yorkshire pigs throughout 108 meals. The researchers declare to have recorded the identical hormonal launch patterns related to satiety as soon as the animals ingested the VIBES capsule 20 minutes earlier than meals.

The research additionally notes that the pigs who swallowed the capsule exhibited a 40% discount in meals consumption, adopted by a slower weight acquire price than the management group. While the efficacy claims are promising, figuring out the process’s security on animal check topics was the research’s major aim forward of the upcoming human trials.

Sized roughly like a multivitamin capsule, a single dose of VIBES handed by the gastrointestinal tract of the pigs inside a mean of 4.3 days. The capsule is powered by a silver oxide battery activated solely when the gastric juices dissolve the non-conductive gelatinous membrane separating the electrodes — very like the detachable plastic tab present in a brand-new TV distant designed to forestall the batteries from going flat prematurely in storage.

Just like there isn’t any swap to energy the vibration motor on, the capsule additionally stops vibrating after about half-hour. The analysis workforce is presently engaged on optimizing the working scale, supply, and cost-effectiveness for human trials sooner or later.

Motorsport

Consumer Reports Says Nearly Half Of EVs Tested Fall Short Of EPA Range Estimates

Electric car vary is not a precise science. Figures rely extremely on street, climate, and driving circumstances, with a laundry record of different components that would have an effect on the mileage in between. If you look over the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) guidelines for the way it determines vary, there are many qualifiers. That mentioned, some EVs are nonetheless lacking the mark.

2023 Lucid Air Touring

Consumer Reports performed a 70-mile-per-hour freeway take a look at that consisted of absolutely charged automobiles with anyplace between 2,000 and 15,000 miles on the odometer, with outdoors temperatures hovering round 70 and 90 levels Fahrenheit through the time of testing. Even in preferrred circumstances like these, practically half of the 22 EVs fell wanting their EPA vary estimates.

Models from Ford, Lucid, and Tesla had been among the many guiltiest events. The Model S fell 39 miles wanting its 405-mile estimate and the Lucid Air failed by 40 miles. The worst offender of the group was the F-150 Lightning, which solely achieved 270 miles as a substitute of its 320-mile EPA ranking.

Other EVs from Audi, Hyundai, Genesis, Nissan, and Kia fell wanting their EPA scores as effectively, however all of these automobiles by fewer than 20 miles. The Nissan Ariya, for instance, was solely 4 miles wanting its EPA ranking, whereas the Ioniq 6 was simply 5 miles brief.

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6

But it wasn’t all unhealthy. BMW’s EVs exceeded their EPA scores – by rather a lot. The i4 was 47 miles higher than its estimate whereas the iX was 46 miles higher. The most profitable of the group was the Mercedes-Benz EQE, which drove for 332 miles. That’s 72 miles higher than its estimated EPA vary.

Certain automobiles from manufacturers like Chevrolet, Nissan, Polestar, Tesla, and Rivian aren’t represented on this take a look at, CR notes, as a result of they didn’t meet the factors for testing. You can see the complete record of automobiles – and the way they faired – under.

Model EPA Rating CR Tested Range
Audi This autumn 50 E-Tron Premium Plus 241 Miles 226 Miles
BMW i4 M50 271 Miles 318 Miles
BMW iX xDrive50 324 Miles 370 Miles
Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat ER 320 Miles 270 Miles
Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD ER 270 Miles 299 Miles
Genesis Electrified GV70 Advanced 236 Miles 220 Miles
Genesis GV60 Advanced 248 Miles 251 Miles
Hyundai Ioniq 5 SEL AWD 256 Miles 267 Miles
Hyundai Ioniq 6 SEL AWD 270 Miles 265 Miles
Kia EV6 Wind AWD 274 Miles 277 Miles
Kia Niro EV Wind 253 Miles 239 Miles
Lexus RZ 450e Premium 220 Miles 202 Miles
Lucid Air Touring 384 Miles 344 Miles
Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4Matic 260 Miles 332 Miles
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 350 4Matic 253 Miles 284 Miles
Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4Matic 340 Miles 380 Miles
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 450 4Matic 285 Miles 314 Miles
Nissan Ariya Platinum+ AWD 257 Miles 253 Miles
Rivian R1T 314 Miles 344 Miles
Subaru Solterra Limited 222 Miles 210 Miles
Tesla Model S Long Range 405 Miles 366 Miles
Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S AWD 240 Miles 253 Miles
Car Accessories

How To Check If Your Engine Can Handle A Turbo

turbocharged car engine Petr Smagin/Shutterstock

There’s a fair bit of science behind how engine turbochargers do what they do (air pressure, compression, fuel burn efficiency, etc.), but basically it will improve an engine’s power by around 30 to 40 percent. It’s a fairly common addition for people who want to get more out of their car’s performance without having to replace the engine itself.

Some modern vehicles already include a turbocharger, making the installation of your own somewhat redundant (unless you want to try replacing the turbocharger with one you believe offers even more of a boost), but plenty still leave the factory without. If it doesn’t have one — you can check by flipping through the owner’s manual, looking up your model online, or popping the hood and seeing if something that kind of looks like a snail attached to it — then you should be good to add one on your own. Just make sure you know what you’re looking for first.

Another thing to consider is the cost of installing a turbocharger, and not just the price of the hardware itself, which could be in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars, or the price of labor if you want a professional to do it for you. A turbocharged engine will likely require more regular maintenance, and depending on the setup you might have to switch to premium (i.e. more expensive) gas. Additionally, it may increase your insurance costs, or result in denied claims if you don’t let your provider know about it.

Can my car handle a turbo?

diesel turbocharger Scharfsinn/Shutterstock

Pretty much any gasoline-powered car can manage a turbocharger, but figuring out approximate specs so as to not overtax the engine will take a fair bit of thinking and researching.

  1. Think about how much horsepower you actually want and need. Don’t just aim for the biggest number — consider what you’ll be using that added power for, what kind of driving conditions (traction) you’ll be dealing with, and the size of your engine.
  2. Open the hood and look at the space surrounding the engine itself to make sure there’s enough physical space for a turbocharger. They aren’t massive, but if the area is too cramped it won’t be able to fit regardless.
  3. Be mindful of other factors like airflow (compressing and feeding air into the engine), air pressure, and temperature (generally safe up to around 1750-degrees Fahrenheit).
  4. Focus on efficiency rather than high numbers. The same goes for physical size as a large turbocharger won’t always equate to higher performance.

This is just the start, however. You still need to figure out your specific engine’s specs and compare them to any turbochargers that catch your eye.

Doing the literal math

hand with pen over math homework Kamil Zajaczkowski/Shutterstock

Before you commit to a specific turbocharger, you’ll want to compare and contrast a number of values with your engine’s current capabilities.

  1. Airflow rate: Figure out your engine’s airflow rate by plugging a scan tool into your car’s diagnostic port (somewhere in the dashboard), then use it to check your air/fuel ratio. Multiply that number by your engine’s horsepower, then multiply by a value between .50 and .60 (an approximate value for brake specific fuel consumption, which can’t be easily tested for specifics) divided by 60.
  2. Determine how much boost pressure (in PSI) you want (typically around 10 to 15, with some diesels going up to 40). Also figure out your area’s average atmospheric pressure (14.7 around sea level, but can vary when above or below sea level).
  3. Pressure ratio: Add your local atmospheric pressure to your desired boost pressure, divided by atmospheric pressure to get your pressure ratio.
  4. Trim: Check the size of the turbo’s inducer and exducer (this should be documented in the turbo’s detail info in mm). Divide the inducer’s value squared by the exducer’s value squared, then multiply the results by 100 to calculate the wheel trim.

Now that you have all the numbers you need, it’s time to put them to use.

Putting it all together

mechanic holding turbocharger Palitsyn Evgenii/Shutterstock

Once your various engine metrics and values are calculated, you need to compare them to what the turbo offers.

  1. Consult the turbocharger’s compressor map (these are typically available for all compressors) using your calculated airflow rate and pressure ratio. The closer the intersection of those two values are to the center of each “island” on the graph, the better.
  2. In general, a compressor efficiency around 60 to 70 percent is ideal.
  3. With a compressor chosen, you need to consult the manufacturer for turbine recommendations. Preferably one with a wheel diameter that’s about 15-percent the size of the compressor’s own wheel diameter.

As always, if you’re not comfortable or confident with the idea of sourcing and (or) installing your own turbocharger, consult with a professional instead. Yes, this will add to the costs, but it will also provide peace of mind — and a lot less manual labor and napkin math on your part.

BMW

BMW Motorrad presents ConnectedRide Smartglasses.

The BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses are bringing science fiction into reality. These innovative motorcycle goggles feature head-up display technology, similar to what you find in cars, and project vital information like navigation, speed, and gear directly into the rider’s field of vision in real time. This allows for safer and more anticipatory motorcycle riding.

Connecting the Smartglasses to your smartphone is a breeze using Bluetooth and the accompanying app. You can position the projection and adjust settings before and during your ride using the multicontroller on the motorcycle’s handlebars.

Not only do these smartglasses enhance riding safety with their individual user interface, but they also offer a high level of comfort. They are specifically designed for the needs of motorcyclists and can be customized to fit various helmets and face shapes. They are even comfortable enough for long day trips, thanks to the lithium-ion battery that provides up to ten hours of operation.

The BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses come with two sets of certified UVA/UVB lenses. One set is 85% transparent and ideal for helmets with built-in sun visors, while the other set has tinted lenses, turning the smartglasses into stylish sunglasses.

For those who wear glasses, there is an RX adapter available (+/- 4.5 diopters) that can be ordered online. The user manual of the ConnectedRide Smartglasses contains a QR code for easy access to this accessory.

The official presentation of the BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses will take place on July 7, 2023, during the BMW Motorrad Days event in Berlin.

The key features of the BMW Motorrad ConnectedRide Smartglasses include:

  • Available in two sizes (M and L) with different nose pads.
  • Two sets of lenses (tinted lens and 85% transparent lens) with an integrated light sensor and certified UVA/UVB filter.
  • RX adapter for adjusting the lenses to the required visual acuity (up to max. 4.5 diopters).
  • Bluetooth connectivity to smartphones via the BMW Motorrad Connected App.
  • Real-time GPS data transfer from the app to the smartglasses.
  • Head-Up function for navigation with individual display.
  • Display of speed, speed limit, gear, and navigation information.
  • Integrated light sensor and optics module for secure data transfer and display.
  • Lithium-ion battery providing up to ten hours of operation.
  • USB charging cable included.
  • Operating temperature range of -10° to +50°C.
  • Color: Anthracite.
  • Recommended retail price (RRP): €690.00.

For more information about BMW motorcycles and BMW Motorrad rider equipment, visit the BMW Group PressClub website.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Website: www.press.bmw.de
Email: presse@bmw.de

The BMW Group

The BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles, with brands including BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad. They also provide premium financial and mobility services. With over 30 production sites worldwide and a global sales network in more than 140 countries, the BMW Group sold nearly 2.4 million passenger vehicles and over 202,000 motorcycles worldwide in 2022.

In the financial year 2022, the BMW Group achieved a profit before tax of €23.5 billion on revenues amounting to €142.6 billion. Sustainability and efficient resource management are at the forefront of the company’s strategic direction, from the supply chain to production and the end-use phase of all products.

For more information, visit the following: