Ask a driver who survived a head-on collision about airbags and he or she might say they were the greatest lifesaver a helpless driver could ever hope to have. Ask another driver who just paid $3000 in repairs because an airbag deployed in a 25 mph fender bender and he or she might call airbags […]
Category: Autos & Vehicles
Things you should have in your car
When you are driving around town or traveling between cities, anything can happen. You can have a flat, run out of gas, experience mechanical problems or get sick. If you are driving, especially if you are driving for long distances alone, here is a list of items you should always keep handy inside your own […]
How to Operate a Forklift
Before operating a forklift there are some critical safety features the operator should be familiar with. A fully loaded forklift can weigh as much as school bus even though the machine seems a lot smaller in size. Whatever type of forklift you are about to operate, it is a good idea to take a walk […]
How Airplanes Work
There is an old joke to the effect that the propeller is a fan in the front of an airplane used to blow air across the pilot, and keep him cool: If you don’t believe that, just watch how fast the pilot starts sweating when the propeller stops turning. While this isn’t a very accurate […]
How does a breathalyzer work?
We’ve all heard about them. Breathalyzers are part of modern culture. We read about their use in newspaper articles and magazine accounts of drunk driving arrests; we see them being used in movies. They are mounted on the walls in bars. Single-use breathalyzers are even for sale to the general public. Police officers use them […]
How Rip Currents Work
Rip currents, also popularly known as rip tides or undertows, are one of the major causes of sea side drowning. With the proper information, rip currents are not only identifiable, but survivable, yet many swimmers are not familiar with the conditions that create rip currents, nor the techniques necessary to escape them. Rip currents form […]
How Gear Ratios Work
The key to gear ratios lies in two physical pieces-an input gear and an output gear. A gear is typically a round, flat piece of steel, wood or plastic with teeth around the outer edge, making it look like a drawing of the sun. Gears only work in pairs or more, as a single gear […]
How hydraulic machines work
One of the best places to get up close and personal lesson on large hydraulic machines is at a construction site. The thing that is most amazing about these machines is their sheer size. From backyard log splitters to the huge machines you see on construction sites, hydraulic equipment is amazing in its strength and […]
How do gears work
All vehicles have rack and pinion gears in their steering systems. These gears are capable of converting the rotation of the vehicle into linear motion. The steering wheel is what will rotate the gear within the rack, and as it turns, the rack will move to the right or left based on how you turn […]
How Hydropower Works
Alternating current electrical power is produced in many ways: nuclear, oil, natural gas, solar, wind, and hydropower are all used to provide electrical power. However, with the exception of electrical power generated via photo-electric cells, all of this power is generated by one simple action: the turning of a generator. All the other various sources […]