Energy and the Environment, Segment 9: More Energy and Cars - a podcast by PSD Channel 10 and Little Shop of Physics

How can we make cars more efficient? Well, sometimes the easiest way to answer a question is to flip the question upside down: so, how can we make them less efficient? The answer that Shannon and Kenny come across has to do with friction. An increase in friction means a decrease in efficiency... so, a decrease in friction means an increase in efficiency. (Remember the hovercraft?) Kenny also wants to know about the interaction between the car engine and the car battery. To answer that question, let's see how using headlights affects the car's use of energy.

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