Last month, the electric car company Tesla showed off a stunt that looked like something from a science-fiction film. At a rocket test site in Texas, its new Roadster sports car drove up a curved ramp, launched into the air using rocket-style thrusters, and stayed up for a few seconds before landing.
Tesla’s boss, Elon Musk, said the car used tanks of high-pressure air and thrusters built with technology from SpaceX, his rocket company. When a thruster releases a blast of air, it pushes the car in the opposite direction.
The flight was impressive, but experts had one big question: Why? Compressed air can’t store much energy, so the car can only stay airborne for a very short time.
There were other catches, too. Nobody was inside the car during the demonstration. Musk said that was to make sure no one got hurt. The flying version also isn’t approved for public roads.
The test shows the difference between proving something can be done and proving it’s useful, efficient, safe, and ready for everyday life.
In Grace’s Amazing Machines, motorcycle rider Grace travels by land, sea, and sky to discover incredible vehicles and find out how they work. Zoom along on superbikes and supercars, take to the skies in a gyrocopter, climb aboard a powerful tugboat, and meet even more machines built to move in amazing ways.
As Grace gets behind the wheel, climbs aboard, and takes each machine for a spin, discover what makes it go, how it steers and stops, and what special features help it do its job. Along the way, explore simple ideas about movement, speed, power, and the forces that make things roll, float, and fly.
Start your engines and get ready to discover some amazing machines!
In The Amazing Concrete Mixer, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb takes us inside a self-loading concrete mixer! She explains how concrete starts as a liquid made from sand, cement, rocks, and water, and then hardens into rock. Join Grace as she shows off the driver's cab with its spinning seat and controls, then fills up the mixer and watches the liquid flow out, ready for building! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Clean Streets Ahead! How Road Sweepers Tackle Dirt, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb investigates the outside and inside of a road sweeper, a vehicle with three big brushes that sweep dirt off the road. Road sweepers spray powerful water through nozzles to wash away stubborn grime, and for tough dirt, there's a giant vacuum in the back that collects everything into a compartment called the hopper! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Machines That Get the Job Done, presenter and motocross racer Grace Webb looks at three useful machines: a tugboat, a backhoe loader, and a road sweeper. Whether allowing us to pull a massive ship, dig a large hole with ease, or keep our streets clean, each machine serves an important purpose. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Using Trenchers to Bury Pipes, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb looks at trenchers that bury pipes and cables into the ground. Trenchers are designed to speed up the work of burying pipes. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Speedy Superbikes, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb looks at superbikes, which are very fast motorbikes. From its slim size and curved windscreen, to its hard rubber tires, the bike is designed for speed. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In The Stoxkart Racing Machine, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb looks at stoxkarts, which are small go-karts designed to drive fast around an oval track. She enjoys participating in a race in the stoxkart, testing out its speed and durability. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Sand Cleanes Keep Our Beaches Clean, presenter and motorbike racer Grace looks at sand cleaners, which are used to pick up litter from beaches. The sand cleaner uses a rake to sieve the sand, removing litter and debris. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Up Close With an Airport Fire Engine, presenter and motorbike racer Grace looks at an airport fire engine, which is designed to put out fires at airports. The engine is much larger than a normal fire engine. Grace puts out a fire with the large hose on top of the engine. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In A Boat Made of Plastic, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb looks at a boat constructed using 8,000 recycled plastic bottles. The electric boat is used to collect waste plastics from rivers. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In The Big Responsibilities of Tugboats, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb highlights the important role of tugboats. She explains how they assist large ships in safely navigating to port and showcases some of the key features of tugboats that make them effective for transportation. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
Last month, the electric car company Tesla showed off a stunt that looked like something from a science-fiction film. At a rocket test site in Texas, its new Roadster sports car drove up a curved ramp, launched into the air using rocket-style thrusters, and stayed up for a few seconds before landing.
Tesla’s boss, Elon Musk, said the car used tanks of high-pressure air and thrusters built with technology from SpaceX, his rocket company. When a thruster releases a blast of air, it pushes the car in the opposite direction.
The flight was impressive, but experts had one big question: Why? Compressed air can’t store much energy, so the car can only stay airborne for a very short time.
There were other catches, too. Nobody was inside the car during the demonstration. Musk said that was to make sure no one got hurt. The flying version also isn’t approved for public roads.
The test shows the difference between proving something can be done and proving it’s useful, efficient, safe, and ready for everyday life.
In Grace’s Amazing Machines, motorcycle rider Grace travels by land, sea, and sky to discover incredible vehicles and find out how they work. Zoom along on superbikes and supercars, take to the skies in a gyrocopter, climb aboard a powerful tugboat, and meet even more machines built to move in amazing ways.
As Grace gets behind the wheel, climbs aboard, and takes each machine for a spin, discover what makes it go, how it steers and stops, and what special features help it do its job. Along the way, explore simple ideas about movement, speed, power, and the forces that make things roll, float, and fly.
Start your engines and get ready to discover some amazing machines!
In The Amazing Concrete Mixer, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb takes us inside a self-loading concrete mixer! She explains how concrete starts as a liquid made from sand, cement, rocks, and water, and then hardens into rock. Join Grace as she shows off the driver's cab with its spinning seat and controls, then fills up the mixer and watches the liquid flow out, ready for building! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Clean Streets Ahead! How Road Sweepers Tackle Dirt, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb investigates the outside and inside of a road sweeper, a vehicle with three big brushes that sweep dirt off the road. Road sweepers spray powerful water through nozzles to wash away stubborn grime, and for tough dirt, there's a giant vacuum in the back that collects everything into a compartment called the hopper! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Machines That Get the Job Done, presenter and motocross racer Grace Webb looks at three useful machines: a tugboat, a backhoe loader, and a road sweeper. Whether allowing us to pull a massive ship, dig a large hole with ease, or keep our streets clean, each machine serves an important purpose. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Using Trenchers to Bury Pipes, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb looks at trenchers that bury pipes and cables into the ground. Trenchers are designed to speed up the work of burying pipes. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Speedy Superbikes, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb looks at superbikes, which are very fast motorbikes. From its slim size and curved windscreen, to its hard rubber tires, the bike is designed for speed. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In The Stoxkart Racing Machine, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb looks at stoxkarts, which are small go-karts designed to drive fast around an oval track. She enjoys participating in a race in the stoxkart, testing out its speed and durability. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Sand Cleanes Keep Our Beaches Clean, presenter and motorbike racer Grace looks at sand cleaners, which are used to pick up litter from beaches. The sand cleaner uses a rake to sieve the sand, removing litter and debris. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In Up Close With an Airport Fire Engine, presenter and motorbike racer Grace looks at an airport fire engine, which is designed to put out fires at airports. The engine is much larger than a normal fire engine. Grace puts out a fire with the large hose on top of the engine. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In A Boat Made of Plastic, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb looks at a boat constructed using 8,000 recycled plastic bottles. The electric boat is used to collect waste plastics from rivers. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.
In The Big Responsibilities of Tugboats, presenter and motorbike racer Grace Webb highlights the important role of tugboats. She explains how they assist large ships in safely navigating to port and showcases some of the key features of tugboats that make them effective for transportation. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Grace’s Amazing Machines, a children’s show that introduces kids to some of the biggest, fastest, and most amazing machines in the world.