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FORMULA ETHARA STEM LEARNING
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Part 1 - Science in Formula Ethara Racing
There is a lot of science involved with what happens on the Formula Ethara Racetrack. Most of the science is about Physics. Physics is a huge subject that looks at the motion of matter and how matter interacts with energy and forces. Here are just a few of the science topics related to Formula Car Racing
- Acceleration
- Thrust
- Friction
- Aerodynamics
- Speed
- Distance
Research & Investigate
Watch the video to learn more about how Formula Ethara racing works. Pay close attention to the facts and figures, maybe pause / play and take some notes of them.
Video - Formula Ethara - Science of Racing
Activity - Racing Facts, Figures and How it Works
Having watched the above video, go to the Science and Math section of the Formula Ethara portfolio and complete the following two activities. If you haven't yet downloaded the Portfolio file, CLICK HERE to find it.
- From memory, recall the facts and figures and add them to the table in your portfolio
- Use the headings provided in the Portfolio and explain how each of the science topics listed can affect a Formula Ethara Race. If you need help to understand the topics, click on the video links below to learn more:
Research & Investigate - Physics & Sir Isaac Newton
Physics is an important field of science. It is the study of the relationship of objects, forces, and energy. Physics explains gravity, and the way things move. Sir Isaac Newton defined the Laws of Motion. These same laws are the basis for all modern and complex Physics calculations. They are even used to work out how to send people to Mars.
Your Mission - Conduct online research to learn more about Isaac Newton and his Laws of Motion so that you enough information to complete the activity below in your Formula Ethara Portfolio
Activity - Sir Isaac Newton Facts
Go to the Science and Math section of the Formula Ethara Portfolio and fill in the missing words to complete the story about Isaac Newton.
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PART 3 - TECHNOLOGY
The Formula Ethara car is built by hand using a very manual process. In this unit you will learn about some CAD & CAM technologies used in the Engineering & Design industries. You will then find out how similar CAD CAM technologies can be used to help design and build a Formula Ethara Car.
Work through the Research and Investigation sections below and then complete the CAD CAM section in your Formula Ethara Portfolio
What you Need:
- Microsoft PowerPoint Software
- The Formula Ethara Project Portfolio PowerPoint file. If you haven't downloaded it yet, CLICK HERE to find it
- Device with internet and YouTube access
What is CAD and CAM?
Research & Investigate
CAD is an acronym that stands for Computer Aided Design
CAM stands for Computer Aided Manufacture.
Engineers and Product Designers commonly use CAD and CAM technologies for the design and manufacture of pretty much everything!
CAD CAM IS EVERYWHERE!
Chances are, you're sitting on a chair right now. It might be made from different materials and include complicated shapes and styling elements. Your home is full of a multitude of things created using CAD & CAM. Well, someone had to design those things, including all the intricate details, manufacturing steps and even the packaging they were delivered in.
Designing and manufacturing all those common household items used to take a lot of time. But today, computers make the process quicker and more efficient by using CAD and CAM software tools. We can use CAD CAM tools to help with the Formula Ethara Car design and make, later in this unit, you will learn how.
Advantages of CAD CAM
Some of the advantages of designing and making using CAD CAM technologies include:
- Speed / Save Time - the design and making process is faster and becomes more efficient. Making changes is simpler.
- Accuracy - CAD CAM technologies are far more accurate than working by hand and can output much higher quality
- View and Check Designs - The technologies allow designers to preview design work very realistically. Designs can even be tested digitally and work can be shown to clients through 3D presentations.
- Safer - Less manual tasks and hazards for workers.
- Sharing - Designs can be sent to others and multiple companies can collaborate and work together on a project.
Disadvantages of CAD CAM
There are also some possible disadvantages of working with CAD CAM:
- Cost - it can be expensive to get technologies set up. Once mass production is up and running, the costs are then much lower than manual production.
- IT Problems - computers could be affected by virus and other security risks that could impact production.
- Loss of Skills - Unemployment might increase and some valued traditional skills could be lost.
CAD and CAM in Formula Ethara
Research & Investigate
Now that you know more about CAD and CAM technologies generally, let's look at the basic CAD CAM tools students can use when they design and build Formula Ethara Cars, in the classroom at school.
Formula Ethara CAD
Using Microsoft PowerPoint to create the car body graphics is a very simple example of Computer Aided Design (CAD). With the PowerPoint graphics tools you can simply and accurately create shapes, patterns and text with a more professional finish then working by hand.
CAD was also used to help prepare the car body template you decorated. A special CAD software called Silhouette Studio was used by technicians at ADNOC | Yas in Schools to design the car body template outline that students decorate using PowerPoint. The Silhouette Studio CAD software helped with creating the car body shapes so they fit accurately on the car chassis.
When students work on the Formula Ethara program at school, the same Silhouette Studio car body digital design is used to drive a Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) process. A special machine reads the digital design to then quickly and accurately cut out the car body parts. The machine even creates perforations (dotted cuts) for all of the fold lines.
Formula Ethara CAM
Building the Formula Ethara car is a very manual process using scissors to cut out parts and then a straight edge tool like a ruler to help with folding. Its tough to get everything accurate and precise using a completely manual process.
In the classroom, students can use a simple Computer Aided Manufacture electronic cutting machine called the Silhouette Cameo. The machine is connected to a laptop that sends commands to cut out the car body shapes and mark perforated the folding lines. These commands are actually simple mathematical coordinates and distances.
Video - Using the Silhouette Cameo Machine for Formula Ethara
The following video demonstrates how the Cameo CAM machine is used to cut out car bodies that were fits decorated using PowerPoint...
Activity - Using CAD & CAM for Formula Ethara
With knowledge you have gained, go to the Formula Ethara Portfolio and complete the CAD CAM section to present how you could use CAD CAM technologies to help improve the process of designing and building a Formula Ethara car.
If you haven't yet downloaded the Portfolio PowerPoint file, get it now at this link - CLICK HERE - NOTE WELL - This file is suitable for hand cutting only. If you wish to cut car bodies using the silhouette cameo, get the correct PowerPoint template from the page below (Teacher login required)
Optional - Extend Your Learning
In this extension section you can learn about
- The Die Cutting Mass Production Process
- CAD Software of the Future
1. Mass Production - The Formula Ethara Car Chassis Parts
To make the Formula Ethara Car Chassis, you first need to use scissors to manually cut out the chassis parts. Its fiddly and hard to be accurate. To make the project much simpler in the classroom, Yas in Schools mass-produces Car Chassis parts.The parts are printed and cut out accurately using a mass production process called Die Cutting.
The outlines and folding lines of the chassis parts were first designed using CAD software. A manufacturer then uses the CAD design to build a special manufacturing die. The die is made up of a series of blades that are the same shape as the chassis parts. These blades cut through paper card stock using a punching action. Other parts of the die create the crease or folding lines by squashing the paper card on the fold line, rather than cutting through.
The end result is thousands of identical, perfectly cut and ready to fold Formula Ethara Car Chassis Parts. Watch the videos below to learn more about Die Cut Manufacturing.
Photo: The Standard Formula Ethara Car Chassis Parts
Videos - Mass Production using Die Cutting Technology
2. CAD Software of the Future
Wondering what CAD software and design tools might look like in the future? How might Design Engineers be working by time you are ready to enter the workforce. Check out the really cool techs that Elon Musk and the team at Space X are developing to help make their rocket design work easier.
Video - The Future of Design
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Part 2 - Math in Formula Ethara Racing
If you have watched the Formula Ethara Race video in Part 1 you will have seen how the race start is controlled by five lights each turning red and then, after a few seconds the lights go turn off / go out. When the lights go out, you press the trigger button to race. The time taken from when the lights go, to when you press the button is your REACTION TIME
How to Win a Formula Ethara Race
To win a Formula Ethara Race you need a fast car and you also need fast reaction times.
- Fast Cars - the better you build your car, the faster it will go. Formula Ethara Cars will race the 20 metre distance somewhere between 1.300 and 1.600 seconds, depending how well they are built.
- Fast Reaction Times - this is how long it takes for you to press the trigger button after you see the signal to go!
The Total Race Time is most important at Formula Ethara Competitions. You need a fast car, but you also need fast reaction times.
Race Start and Race Time Data Explained
If you look at the far right picture above you will see that:
- All times are displayed in the measurement unit of seconds
- Times are shown accurate to three decimal places or one one thousand of a second. A millisecond!
- REACTION TIME - How long it took to press the trigger button. Lane 1 shown above has a reaction time of 0.383 seconds
- RACE TIME - How long it took the car to travel from the start line to the finish line. Lane 1 above = 1.538 seconds
- TOTAL RACE TIME - This is your REACTION TIME + RACE TIME of the car. For Lane 1: 0.383 + 1.538 = 1.921 seconds
Formula Ethara Racing Rules
- All team members must race the car at least once
- Each team has 6 races
- The teams final Race Result is the AVERAGE of all of the 6 races
Research & Investigate - Test Your Reaction Time!
Fast Reaction Times are important in Formula Ethara Racing. Lets now see how good your reaction times are. Get ready to test yourself and also record each of your reaction time results.
Click on the Reaction Time tester picture below to get started. Use the Free Practice mode and don't forget to record each of your reaction time results. You will need this data for the next Activity.
Click to open the Reaction Time tester.
Averages and Decimal Places - Need some help?
To learn more about the concepts of Average Number or Decimal Places, click on the video links below:
Activity - What's Your Average Reaction Time?
Now go to the Ethara Science and Math section of the #EtharaAtHome portfolio and complete the Reaction Time data activities.
- Input your reaction times into the table
- Calculate your average reaction time
- Calculate total race times and average total race time.
- Calculate your Theoretic Best Total Race Time.
Research & Investigate - Average Speed
Speed is defined as the rate at which something moves. Speed is related to the Science of motion. We can use Math to calculate the speed of an object. Studying the motion of Formula Ethara car could get very complex if we were to consider factors like acceleration and friction.
We are going to keep it simple and calculate the AVERAGE SPEED of a Formula Ethara Car. Watch the next video to learn how to calculate AVERAGE SPEED
Video - Calculating Speed, Distance and Time
Convert Meters per Second (m/s) to Kilometers per Hour (km/h)
In the video, AVERAGE SPEED is being calculated using the units of Meters for Distance and Seconds for Time. AVERAGE SPEED is then stated as Meters per Second (m/s). Its more common for the average person to talk about speed using the units of Kilometers and Hours (km/h).
The video does explain conversions, but here is a very simple rule to help you convert speed from (m/s) to (km/h).
SPEED IN METERS PER SECOND x 3.6 = SPEED IN KILOMETERS PER HOUR
Yas Marina Circuit in Numbers
Some of the following Yas Marina Circuit data will help you complete the activities section in the Portfolio:
- Lap Distance = 5.554 km
- F1 Race Laps = 55 laps
- F1 Race Distance = 305.355 km
- Lap Record Time = 1'40.279 - 1 Minute and 40.279 seconds (Sebastian Vettel, 2009)
- Average Lap Record Speed = 199 km/h
- Maximum Speed = 339 km/h
Activity - Which is Faster, Usain Bolt or a Formula Ethara Car?
If you have watched the calculating speed video, go to the Ethara Science and Math section of the Portfolio and complete the activity sections to:
- Calculate the average speed of the Formula Ethara Car in meters per second
- Calculate how long it would take (in theory) for a Formula Ethara Car to do one lap of Yas Marina Circuit!
- Convert average speed of Formula Ethara Car to speed in Kilometers per Hour
- Which is Faster? Usain Bolt or a Formula Ethara Car?
