Team M.O.D. Formula 1Research
To aid us in designing our cars and to increase our knowledge we conducted extensive research into key areas such as aerodynamics and Formula 1. Below is a simplified account of our findings.
Aerodynamics
To create the fastest car possible we needed to learn how drag can affect our car's speed. We utilised our searching skills and uncovered several brilliant sites full of easy-to-understand information. We pooled our new found knowledge to create a guide for you.
The diagram above shows the three main forces, thrust, weight and drag, and how they affect our car's speed. The thrust generated by the CO2 cartridge propels the car forward but is soon affected by the air resistance (drag) which pushs the car back and slows it down. Also the mass of the car can weigh it down. Drag and weight can seriously affect a car's speed but there are ways to combat these performance damaging factors.
Drag resists our cars travelling through air and the larger the surface area and the faster the vehicle the more drag is created. For instance if our car had a large front nose then a significant amount of air pressure would build up on the front of the car. The smaller the surface area that comes into contact with air pressure the less drag is created. To minimise the amount of drag created a slim streamlined shape is therefore essential.
The heavier the car the more thrust is wasted in driving it forward. Therefore the lighter the car the more energy is available to move the car forward. In theory the lighter the car the faster it goes. To minimise excess weight specialist materials can be used in the car's production such as nylon and titanium. Also by having as smaller body as possible weight can be reduced.
Conclusion- Bearing our new knowledge in mind we will aim to design a streamlined, lightweight car. Click here to see our designs.
Formula One
Formula 1 Teams are at the pinnacle of modern technology and engineering and operate at the height of professionalism. Therefore a lot can be gained by scrutinising the world of F1. We have explored several areas of Formula 1.
- Brand Identity- All F1 teams have a distinctive brand image and their colours and logo are used throughout all their work. We have tried to emulate this in all our work by using a unique logo and constantly using our team colours (green and black).
- Uniforms- All F1 teams have a distinctive team uniform that is worn by all members of the team. It is based on the team colours and has the team and sponsor's logos imprinted on it. It creates a sense of identity and unity between team members. Therefore we decided to create our own team uniform. Below the Williams BMW uniform is compared to our own distinctive outfits.
- The Internet- Most racing teams use the internet to market themselves to sponsors and keep their fans informed. We do the same with this very website.
- Publications- F1 teams keep their fans and sponsors informed with regular publications. We are currently planning our own newsletter.
Conclusion- F1 teams are brilliant role s for our team and we will try to emulate some of their ideas in our work.
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