Job Title: Deputy Head, Engineering Projects, Department of Engineering

Company: Brooklands College

Why are maths and physics worthwhile subjects to study?

The both underpin technological change , growth and development

Can you give an example where you have used maths and or physics in Motorsports in an interesting, exciting and or fun way?

Proving by calculating down force loads that a race car could drive through the Channel Tunnel upside-down!

How did you feel about maths and physics as a child?

I loved it!

How important are maths and physics in your field of work and how often do you use them?

Very important

How did you start/end up working within the Motorsport industry?

As a curriculum offering for my students.

How would it have affected your career if you didn't have maths and physics skills?

It would have been made very difficult

How essential are the skills of maths and physics to careers within Motorsport?

These skills are important for technicians and essential for designers and developers.

Which physics equation in your opinion is the most important?

Newton 's Laws of Physics.
These are still applied by performance vehicle designers every day for every type of car. Using these laws, designers are able to determine such things as the overall shape of the car, how much power is required, how far it can go, and how all other aspects of performance is calculated . All these areas must be addressed for the design to be successful.

What is your favourite equation and why?

Kinetic energy = 1 / 2 x mass x [velocity] 2

A physics Motorsport student was hit by a brick falling from a house. He fainted, but came to after a while and started smiling. The onlookers were worried, so they asked him why the smile. "I just realised how lucky I am because the kinetic energy is only half m v squared."

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