Science Infoblog

Top Gear and the Vampire, the ultimate acceleration on four wheels

…..and now the maths and science.

Vampire: technical information
estimated top speed; 370 mph
acceleration 0 to 272 mph in 6 seconds
engine; Rolls Royce Orpheus.
fuel economy: 7-10gallons per mile
Weight 2,200lbs(998Kg)
length 30 feet (9.14m)

Challenge: apply your science with some mathematics

Apply the science you have been studying to answer questions abouth the vanpire. Click on the comments button at the foot of this post and leave your answers.

The first 6 mostly correct answers  will receive a mars bar (year 11 students or younger)

1. calculate the top speed in metres per second
2. calculate the acceleration in metres per second per second
3. The acceleration is produced by an unbalanced force. Calculate the thrust produced by the Rolls Royce Orpheus engine for this unbalanced force.
4. Why is the thrust produced by the engine actually much greater?

Year 10 students studying  NCEA level science this year have made a number of 5 minute tutorials that cover aspects of their course. Have a look at them. The first video deals with acids and bases.

The second video covers motion and distance time graphs. Do you find these tutorials useful. Why don’t you pick a topic with some friends and make your own video.

Mexican swine flu has a complex ancestry containing parts from two previous swine flu viruses and gene segments that originated in birds or humans. The strain of the virus derives its name from the proteins found on the surface of the envelope in this case haemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N. These proteins determine the type of host cell the virus will latch on to.

For NCEA level 1 science you need to be familiar with the process of virus replication.

Check out the following:

• Bacterial basics
• How bacteria live: Extra cellular digestion
• Watch a white blood cell chase a bacterium and absorb it…a horrible end
• Bacteria dividing

Glaciers move slowly but relentlessly down valleys gouging out huge volumes of rock as they go. It takes about 400 years for snow collecting at the top of Fox glacier to reach the Fox river at the bottom.

As the glacier rips rocks away from the sides of the valley it can leave a polished surface with gouge marks. 400 years in this grinding machine can turn rocks into flour. Look at the colour of the water coming out the end of the glacier in the last video. Rocks carried by the glacier get dumped at the front and the sides when the ice melts.
Valleys formed by glacier erosion have a characteristic U shape.