Building the Vehicle Physicists Called Impossible (feat. Veritasium)

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Derek's First Video on Blackbird: • Risking My Life To Set...
Derek's Second Video: • A Physics Prof Bet Me ...
A HUGE thank you to my friend Shane for stepping in and helping me with overnight CAD while I was overwhelmed and struggling and seriously needed to just sleep. Y'all should give him a follow, he is a very cool rocket kid! / shanepc14
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Xyla Foxlin
3727 W. Magnolia Blvd. # 174
Burbank, CA 91505
My Amazon Storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/xylafoxlin
Build your own Impossible Wind Cart:
------------------------------------------------------------
*I HIGHLY recommend ordering ordering extra parts, especially ball bearings and plastic gears. The listed quantities are what is on the cart in it's final form.*
CAD Files: www.thingiverse.com/thing:489...
My 3D Printer (Creality CR-200B): www.creality3dofficial.com/pr...
Bill of Materials from McMaster-Carr:
www.mcmaster.com/
1x 12205T79 Natural Rubber Bands Size 73, 3/8" Wide x 3" Long
6x 60355K42 Ball Bearing Shielded, Trade No. R3-2Z, for 3/16" Shaft Diameter
2x 7297K12 Plastic Miter Gear 48 Pitch, 24 Teeth
2x 1263K55 Rotary Shaft 316 Stainless Steel, 3/16" Diameter, 24" Long
2x 8978K113 Rigid Aluminum Tubing 3/16" OD, 0.022" Wall Thickness, 490 PSI Maximum Pressure, 3' Long
2x 6432K19 Set Screw Shaft Collar for 3/16" Diameter, Zinc-Plated 1215 Carbon Steel
The Propeller: www.apcprop.com/product/14x4-...
(affiliate link, not the prop I used: amzn.to/3y58jz0)
Pretty Purple Filament: amzn.to/3A8cXOJ ;)
Alternatively, a good friend of mine wanted to build this and shaved $14 off the BOM still ordering from McMaster. I can't vouch since it's not what I built specifically but I'm fairly certain it'll be exactly the same:
1 1 Pack of 360 12205T79 Natural Rubber Bands Size 73, 3/8" Wide x 3" Long
2 2 Each 7297K12 Plastic Miter Gear 48 Pitch, 24 Teeth
3 2 Each 8978K113 Rigid Aluminum Tubing 3/16" OD, 0.022" Wall Thickness, 490 PSI Maximum Pressure, 3' Long
4 2 Each 6432K19 Set Screw Shaft Collar for 3/16" Diameter, Zinc-Plated 1215 Carbon Steel
5 6 Each 57155K374 Stainless Steel Ball Bearing Precision, Shielded, NO. R3-2Z, 50000 rpm Maximum Speed
6 2 Each 1257K55 Rotary Shaft 303 Stainless Steel, 3/16" Diameter, 24" Long
Huge thank-you to TotalBoat for supporting my channel!
Use my affiliate link for 5% off your whole purchase :)
www.totalboat.com/BotalToat

[@mikecalhoun8497]

No, no ,no Xyla.....the propeller on the front of an airplane is there to keep the pilot cool. As has been proven many times over as soon as the propeller stops the pilot starts sweating profusely . LOLOLOLOL

[@231pilot]

Can confirm!

[@Urzaden]

This was too great. Thanks for making me laugh so hard today. Cheers!

[@sanyi1975]

@@231pilot LOL

[@231pilot]

@@sanyi1975 It really does. The cabin air scoops are right behind the propeller, works great on the ground!

[@mikecalhoun8497]

Also a Piper Cub is a very safe airplane......it flies barely fast enough to kill you. LOLOL

[@2bidfilmguys404]

KZbin should consider hiring better people to make there recommendation algorithm because this is clearly the content i want to watch but youtube is hiding it from me. Thankyou integza for helping me discover this channel❤

[@rog2224]

Based on every metric I've seen, the algorithm isn't intended to be 'good', and more like the lights flashing on a slot machine to entrain one. I don't think Google/Alphabet Inc/KZbin use the word 'engagement' in a sense used in common English.

[@hoveringgoat8061]

integza is so much fun. I love that guy.

[@2bidfilmguys404]

@@hoveringgoat8061 ya surely he is!!

[@dim1723]

Its not made for us to find good content we like but to get content clicked. Which is why viral videos and memes blow up so fast still and die.

[@Inertia888]

If you go to some of the commenter's own pages, and have a look at what they are subbed to, if those commenters are like-minded, you may find some really great channels that way. Just an idea, hope the best for you on your journey to collecting great minds on the inter-webs!!

[@emiliomcb4121]

I love how you made the gear ratio 1:1 to remove the variable. Just like the math equation you simplified to only need to tweak the propeller pitch.

[@kklop01]

I love Emily's comment, "It's beautiful!". I completely agree with her. It's beautiful to see it working and also the process you went through to get it to work.

[@piccalillipit9211]

Have you seen this Veritasium video "This equation will change how you see the world" I nearly cried when it turned into the Mandlebrot set - it was so astonishingly beautiful the perfection of it...

[@integza]

I guess I'm not the only one who forgets safety glasses

[@bingus2550]

not only glasses just you forgot “safety” ;)

[@xylafoxlin]

We are video AND negligence buddies now!!!

[@harshp5454]

you did better than her

[@techsbyglebbagrov7470]

Sup bois. Looks like this car started quite a stir

[@LW_17]

POG

[@Dangerdad137]

This means that Derek was injured more on the model than on the life-sized run. :)

[@nommy8599]

I think everyone would rather be hit by the model prop. Can you imagine if that happened while he was driving the full-sized one?

[@NO1xANIMExFAN]

@@nommy8599 his head wouldve fallen off if he get hit with the big one

[@zee9709]

Yeah, i watch the video. That thing looks sketchy as fk 😂

[@TheAussieRepairGuy]

9:48 - If you want to reduce the friction even more, pry out the shield in those ZZ rated bearings, wash out the grease and add sewing machine oil. That or get some fidget spinners and steal the bearings out of those.

[@jmg999]

This was SO impressive! You know that you're doing something right, when an astrophysicist is wowed by your accomplishment in physics.

[@BurazSC2]

"Eureka!" - Archimedes "Yoooooo!" - Xyla Foxlin...and everyone else from now on.

[@Kevin-jz9bg]

Iconic

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

That sound bite will live on for generations.

[@MrMaxitaple]

insert japanese bruh sound

[@37rainman]

She only said "Yoooooo" because she engineered a fine device, and demos it working on that little treadmill. But it is not doing what they claim it does. That is, they claim that after she releases it, it is being powered by the belt. After she releases it, the prop immediately begins to slow, and in a short while will come to a stop. After it is released, no energy is coming into the vehicle.. But you might ask, "if no energy is coming in, and it is slowing down, how does it surge ahead like it does? Ah yes, good question, and a very simple answer! But, students, i leave that answer up to you

[@archimedesmaid3602]

@@37rainman The answer to your question is that for a few seconds after she releases it, the prop has enough thrust to skid the wheels of this very light car over the belt, even tho the wheels are slowing. A longer belt will show that to be true. And the car will be off the back end of the belt within seconds She always ends up grabbing it because it overruns the front end of the treadmill. Get a longer belt

[@theHacksmith]

That was AWESOME!!! Loved everything about this video. Keep it up!!!

[@user-wn3yl3fm2i]

I have a message for James, Hope your hand heals. From, the Fans

[@jevinstanley9618]

Hi

[@NityaStriker]

Make a large scale version !

[@samgranier6735]

Please can you build us à" turbo voile "? You ll be surprise 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbovoile

[@halflight8811]

Make it real

[@AznInvasion521]

Happy to have found your video and channel and learn of your involvement with Veritasium's effort to answer this question. As an amateur engineer/maker myself your content is great especially because you include the details of failed/unsuccessful efforts which i think many of us can relate to. I enjoy the animated enthusiasm you bring to the table (or at the very least on camera) and looking forward to your future content and watching you channel continue to grow!

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

_"All these people just need to learn not to put their appendages where propellers are."_ -- Xyla Foxlin, 2021 I have worked in aviation for a few decades, and I THOROUGHLY APPROVE this quote...😊 BTW: *TAKE THAT, ACADEMIA!!!!* 😄😄😄😄😄

[@roytee3127]

She's an airplane pilot.

[@ivanmirandawastaken]

Iterative design and 3D printing are great but relentless engineering is unbeatable, great job!!

[@michalvallo5051]

Hi

[@foamboard_shenanigans]

Yes Ivan. But when are you going to print your own life size propeller wind kart?

[@pydron]

@@foamboard_shenanigans with plenty of spacers!

[@alexoolau]

They should mass produce this as toys for profit!

[@perpleksed]

@Gus Erland wtf is wrong with you

[@vacri54]

Derek: "You forgot your safety glasses". Xyla: "You forgot the giant spinning blade near your hand".

[@positronicdreams]

I sometimes come back to this video when I feel discouraged. Your determination is inspiring to me.

[@FoxMacLeod2501]

The way Xyla describes it at the beginning is the best way I have yet heard this concept simplified, and the breakdown a little after 7:00 is absolutely excellent.

[@Quarky_]

Physicist here, even after watching 2 of Derek's videos I wasn't clear how this works. The final demo in his last video with the rollers convinced me it is real, but your explanation in your "teacher mode" @ 8:00 is what made it finally click! It's really about gear ratios, just that on one end you have propellers and air. :)

[@xylafoxlin]

It's the glasses isn't it

[@Markus-zb5zd]

@@xylafoxlin nah, the voice

[@thoperSought]

@@xylafoxlin the glasses made me snort

[@brianfhunter]

The second Derekd's video on the part of the wheels and wood push click me how the theory works, but here on Xyla Teacher mode, i can see how it works on real life. I have a 3D printer and worked on manufacturing before, i will try to build one, BUT, here in Brazil those peaces are not easily and cheap to obtain, i probably will need to print the gears and the propeller as well, i dont think gears is going to be a problem, but the propeller im not sure, never build one before, i dont even know how to start drawing one.

[@millwrightrick1]

As a millwright I realized immediately that gear ratios are the important fact. Same as a motor turning at 1720 rpm can be either geared up to drive something faster or slower that the actual motor speed. Nice work.

[@MotivationalBeer]

Thank you for not just keeping at it, but also for sharing your struggles. That I love sharing these videos with my engineer minded kids because the are seeing the hard part of the process not just the cool success. Thank you Xyla!!

[@xylafoxlin]

Thanks so much! It's hard on the ego to leave them in but I think it's important. No one succeeds the first try!

[@starblaiz1986]

@@xylafoxlin "Success is falling down nine times, and getting up ten" ~ Jon Bon Jovi

[@valosonthor]

Xyla has been a big inspiration for helping me get back into creating and making. Ever since leaving faire, I'd been struggling to find something to fill that creative itch, and maker channels like Xyla's have been a big part of discovering it.

[@aldergone]

@@xylafoxlin a lot of engineering is the iterative process. Never trust version 1 of any process or always expect version 1 to not work as expected. I am currently involved in one project and we are at revision 22

[@KnotRight4Ever]

@@xylafoxlin since the propeller acts as a fan once up to that 12mph mark couldn't u make this stationary and instead of driving wheels have it geared to a regular wind powered generator behind it multiplying its speed in low wind areas. Wouldn't once up to speed the front "sail propeller" should start to increase force as the rear generator fan removes back pressure from it creating a tunneling effect increasing the speed, power output and hopefully even reducing the stress of the fans under higher speeds because of the tunneling air with lower speed around it instead of the normal ones in high wind areas with high speeds all around them.

[@joergvonloebenstein]

Your execution and your explanations are so above and yet simple. You rock!

[@tomm.149]

Great video Xyla. I just ran across you on Veritasium's video. Smart, funny, personable and persistent. I loved the way you laughed when the models failed, made modifications until success... and then "exploded" upon that success ~ just a lot of fun to watch. A great example to all the young and upcoming tinkerers out there (which is where a lot science starts)... I think I will have to subscribe.

[@xeniosm4549]

Every time Derek was holding itI was like duuuuuuuudee don't hold it like that!

[@gfhrtshergheghegewgewgew1730]

derek riding in a deadly faster than the wind propcar: *goes faster than the wind, all smiles, no problems* derek holding a faster than the wind model car on a treadmill: *instant damage, blood drawn, his smile and optimism: gone* 🤔

[@eekee6034]

Humans are weird. Can confirm from personal experience. :D

[@roytee3127]

It turns out that Xyla is an airplane pilot. She understands about keeping away from propellers. Derek obviously isn't and doesn't.

[@anterokaarakka62]

This toy has nothing to do with going faster than the wind.

[@ludovicryser5213]

@@anterokaarakka62 Well, technically, there wasn't any wind above the treadmill so we could say that the speed of the wind was equal to zero. That being said, since the "toy" was indeed moving forward (thus having a speed superior to zero), we can legitimately say that all of this has something to do with going faster than the wind.

[@nofiresmike3322]

This pleases me as much as your lighted glass kayak!! Isn't, "It can't be done!" the best motivator.

[@VicJang]

Incredible!! I just watched Derek’s video and finished watching yours. I follow several engineering KZbin channels and yours is definitely one of the best. Great job.

[@bitlunislab]

amazing! it's so great to see you not giving up and overcoming all difficulties eventually. this is how things get done

[@joansuero9063]

thats not impossible just you must know bit of physic.

[@matthewtalbot-paine7977]

$10k is a pretty good incentive.

[@kennethsizer6217]

> this is how things get done 💯 "Fall down seven times, stand up eight"

[@JH-fk8ow]

@@matthewtalbot-paine7977 pocket change for a guy with tens of millions... and he was giving it away from the get go, it wasnt about money.

[@matthewtalbot-paine7977]

@@JH-fk8ow Of course but then you could say how much does he get paid for the views he got on youtube for the 2 videos? I'm sure he enjoyed doing it as well.

[@joshmaxwellreinerallen3521]

This is why I play Xyla Foxlin videos for my 2-year old daughter! The smile, laughing, and joy all while building, creating, and innovating! It’s infectious!! Congratulations on proving that prof wrong and helping V win the bet!

[@7head7metal7]

Your enthusiasm is a true inspiration! Thank you for working hard, demonstrating that the car works, and publishing everything needed to replicate it! I see your work as a great example on science in the works :)

[@CloudMaster925]

Love it and just subscribed. Your zeal and vivaciousness is so contagious. I know I'm a couple months behind on this, but I just saw it for the first time after seeing the Veritasium video. Excellent video and presentation. Congratulations on helping to win the bet. Awesome.

[@joshmckinney3254]

In all seriousness, I watched Derek's video about 3 times and eventually gave up because the sailboat explanation simply just didn't click for me. about half way through your video it all made sense. I know full well that Derek's video helped set the stage for my understanding this problem, but you were able to really drive it home for me.

[@xylafoxlin]

Wow, big compliment! Thank you!

[@acctsys]

Try it again this time. The sail explanation is the very core of it that's still pertinent to wind. Derek's demo with the 5 wheel cart pushed along with the wooden bar settles the mechanics of it in more general terms.

[@TechyBen]

@@acctsys This. People blaming Derek for not changing reality. :facepalm:

[@ChrisHow]

@@acctsys Yeah, I got the 'sailboats circumnavigating the cylindrical earth' but had to kinda take it on trust that sailboats *can* beat the wind when tacking. But the five-wheeled cart was such a great demonstration that it was immediately obvious to me. Also made it immediately obvious to me that a version with a squirrel-cage type fan where the largest wheel is would work (given a sufficiently efficient fan).

[@ThisNoName]

@@ChrisHow You don't have to "trust" that sailboat can beat the wind, that's the first thing they teach you, don't go straight downwind, it's too slow.

[@forceman911]

“These bearings are critical” she says as she smacks them into place with a pair of pliers…. Too funny!

[@ionbusman2086]

Not like that would damage them tho

[@baikia777]

Hammers and brute force are engineers best friend

[@unmecsuryoutube7413]

@@ionbusman2086 That might damage them if you force on the wrong ring

[@1crazypj]

@@ionbusman2086 The bearing races are hardened but the shields are real soft and could easily get bent into either cage or race. There is also a problem known as 'Brinnelling' (from Brinnel the 19th C engineer) where the ball bearings cause 'dimples' in the races and flats on the ball.

[@lilvenaz]

One doesn't even need to be an engineer, its enough to be a skater and understand how bearings break

[@jaxflRealtor]

You are so smart, love your projects and love that I came across them

[@TomBouthillet]

Absolutely incredible video! Congratulations you two.

[@RamkrishanYT]

"It's like the spherical cow" should be a marketing slogan

[@Nabuchodonozord]

On an unrelated note, I'm glad to see the cow jokes transcend language barriers. In Poland we often assume cows are perfect cylinders for moment of inertia calculations in high school. That "spherical cow" was the first time I heard about it in English. It doesn't quite refer to the same thing, it's more of a principle, but there's also a cow! :d

[@japeking1]

@@Nabuchodonozord "Consider a cylindrical cow." ?? Why would anyone want the moment of inertia of a cow? Even if you are interested in the variable power requirements for rotating milking stalls you surely can treat the cows as point masses. Or can you? Damn... I'm sure I did when I constructed an exam question about milking stalls but now you've made me think I might have over simplified.

[@RalphEllis]

Not heard of the spherical cow before - I always thought it was a spherical chicken..! R

[@tractorsold1]

When I studied physics, it was the spherical horse.

[@victor-charlesscafati]

I don't know about that, but that's going to be the name of my new band!

[@SwitchAndLever]

This is beyond cool! Glad to see you got it working in the end 😊

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

Congratulations! Such a triumph

[@davidofsimi8437]

Xyla, I love how you explore soooo many creative avenues. Rockets, Wood, Science, . . . Please keep sharing.

[@marcosolano3051]

"I actually managed to get away with freezing the axle, heating the bearing and just going for it." I really like how simple but genius you made it seem! Kudos

[@Lappmogel]

That's been the standard way of doing it since forever.

[@st3vorocks290]

@@Lappmogel Yeah, maintenance techs and machinists do this every day.

[@LeglessWonder]

@@st3vorocks290 Yep, got the stink eye from the ex several times for having car parts in the oven and/or freezer 😂

[@billymanilli]

lol yeah, the frost in my freezer has little backwards "timken" logos everywhere 😃

[@andrewmitchell5807]

They teach that method in every meche class ever lol

[@JeremyBouchez]

That "Yooooooo!" at 14:21 is so adorable.

[@maxium4x4]

Nice to have friends who are willing to dedicate themselves to achieving your goal, nice job Xyla.

[@cem_kaya]

Thank you very much for open sourcing the design.

[@JayRalston1041]

You know what they say. "no project is complete until you bleed on it".

[@BoredInNW6]

It was the blood sacrifices which made this project work.

[@juanfrancisconavarrorodrig567]

Equivalent exchange

[@MonkeyJedi99]

@@juanfrancisconavarrorodrig567 Just be careful not to lose a finger. It might end up as a homonculous!

[@DFPercush]

This whole thing has become like a physics rap battle lol, you guys even pulled Neil Degrasse Tyson and Bill Nye into it 😂. Good work helping to settle a decades old debate!

[@aqqalur3941]

@@manaherb6 youtube

[@suprith-science1441]

And don't forget Sean Carrol

[@satsubatsu347]

It was settled decades ago. Professor Drela made it clear that the equations have been used for a long time to eliminate the exact issues that UCLA had in his truncated calculations.

[@bait5257]

Only needed Newton to crush both

[@bait5257]

Like erb

[@elduderinolebowski3888]

Amazing work on this project!

[@6258RB]

Fantastic job, well done. can`t wait to see your drive and ride version.

[@alcapone2176]

I use to build wind powered vehicles, until I took a propeller to the knee.

[@nishant3631]

Ah sweet old Skyrim

[@Gumbocinno]

Take me back to the days of the knee memes

[@BadhonPinak]

I understood that reference !

[@colfaxschuyler3675]

That made me happy.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

@@BadhonPinak Serious Steve Rogers energy.

[@MattMcIrvin]

That treadmill setup was what made it understandable to me how this could work. It's looking at the original problem in the rest frame of the wind.

[@37rainman]

It doesnt work, as putting it on a longer treadmill will rapidly demo

[@kwinterburn]

Matt spot on its not the same essentially its running with an equal speed tailwind

[@Jkirk3279]

@@kwinterburn But you can’t exceed the tailwind. In fact, minus friction, you can’t even keep up. The closest to this is traveling by air balloon; you’re traveling at almost. Wind speed, so you don’t feel a breeze.

[@archimedesmaid3602]

@@kwinterburn That was the aim, but the device does not actually work, as a longer belt will prove. Just as 37 rain said above

[@stefanosega7280]

@@37rainman it would and it would accelerate forever. There is a little problem that nobody seems to pick up though....it is not the relative wind moving it, it is the motor of the threadmill that supplies that energy that allows the model to accelerate. A better experiment would be to put the model in a wind tunnel and see if it would accelerate. It wouldnt.

[@euclidallglorytotheloglady5500]

Congratulations Xyla!! Stunning!

[@d1663m]

I really truly didn't think it would work! I was more on the "it's bunk" side of the room. Thanks for sticking with it!

[@enginesandmore1013]

My mechanical teacher always told me. "before solving anything, make a drawing and make sure you draw ALL the forces"

[@sammy4538]

Guessing ur teacher would propably draw force of the treadmill, in this one :)

[@bobikoart]

Ends up drawing all the mechanical components in the treadmill

[@xxxUranium238]

@@bobikoart 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@hitchikerspie]

That expression of wonder from Derek’s assistant was pure peak physics/engineering crossover

[@JohnAbreu17]

Awesome engineering + magnificent thinking. Congratulations!

[@expomm]

Awesome!! Kudos to the Prof for acknowledging science!

[@ShashankSrivastav]

It's so awesome to see the way you kept engineering through different iterations and never giving up! Kudos Xyla!

[@SeanHodgins]

So now that its proven, there needs to be a yearly competition to see who can make the fastest/lightweight/interesting cart. Just need a really long treadmill!

[@Eagleizer]

Nothing is proven until the treadmill is disconnected from it's power source.

[@lordsqueak]

Well, if this works as it should, all you need is a very long and flat surface and enough tail wind to get the craft up to speed. I could see this being a thing in one of those salt flats.

[@nekogod]

It was proven years ago.

[@jetison333]

@@Eagleizer the treadmill is an exact analogue to a tail wind. its like watching the cart from the reference frame of the wind, the ground appears to move. If you disconnected the treadmill, the "wind" would quickly die out.

[@daemn42]

Would be more fun to have head to head races across a big stadium floor with some fans blowing from one side to the other. I know it can be done. I've seen indoor RC sailing races.

[@bobfree6674]

So loved your example of the iterative process! Go engineers!

[@ramizr]

thought to watch this when I watched Derek's video but actually forgot it as I was excited about the SciComm Contest but finally watched it! What a beautiful Engineering! And obviously Rick is literally a genius.

[@iFlyFast]

The first 2 attempts you had the prop on backwards! The last design you had it on correct. As an RC pilot, this is something that catches my eye all the time!

[@JMMC1005]

Derek did the same thing on Vertiasium, too! It was so frustrating knowing that his model was losing a ton of efficiency for a simple reason.

[@ntsure2436]

Can I assume this is because the prop has an asymmetric bias for lift/thrust, like a wing?

[@JMMC1005]

@@ntsure2436 Exactly. Props (except for reversible pitch props used for very specific aerobatic model aircraft) have camber. Running them backwards makes a lot of noise and a little bit of thrust, but nowhere near as much as when they are going the right way. The concave side should always be facing backwards (so for a 'pusher' design, you have to mount it backwards with respect to the shaft).

[@derschmittlock1816]

I was looking for that comment :D Buggered me as well. Otherwise an awesome build, so nice that it's open source and essentially anybody around the globe can build it. Well done!

[@DanielConstantinoS]

Dereck 3 am: "_Oh no, it's the treadmill maniac girl again..."

[@veritasium]

But really…

[@walkinmn]

@@veritasium I need to save this moment

[@galtbarber2640]

So, I need to do 2 things: Flip the prop over on the drive shaft (so the writing "14x4.7" on the prop is facing forwards in the direction the wind car is intended to go), and make sure it is attached well and not slipping. Propellers are not actually symmetrical when flipped over on the drive shaft, so the correct way works more efficiently to grab the air.

[@simonl7784]

I think her pride made her omit/hide that mistake. I say this because even after she discovered her mistake, which is probably the cause of her 2 first failures, she doesn't even mention the prop direction in her build tutorial. That or she didn't actually notice her mistake and its by pure luck that she put it the right way for her last try. Anyway, it looks bad coming from someone who loves to brag about being an 'engineer'. I have yet to see her actually do some engineering rather than just some crafting.

[@smicha15]

Really great demonstration. Thank you!

[@IllidanS4]

Derek advances to ElectroBOOM's level here, for science.

[@Kevin-jz9bg]

Dam IllidanS4 that made my day

[@wesleyrm]

LMAO

[@tafsirnahian669]

Bruh

[@netsider]

What's the small structure with lights at 11:50?

[@Kevin-jz9bg]

@@netsider kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGbZaXdjltF0gac

[@mxxy2k]

Thank you for creating this my daughter is really into stem and really loves you

[@petersonners4626]

Xyla Explained STEAM as "Science, Technology, Engineering And Math" I'm pretty sure its, "Arts and Math"

[@Goldy01]

@@petersonners4626 It's STEM. There is no art in it.

[@ashr_]

EPIIIICC. Grats on pulling it off!

[@brianclimbs1509]

Wow, I genuinely appreciate the effort to replicate this and especially to make it reproducible by other people. This is what science is meant to look like.

[@-danR]

What this does is specifically test the good professor's belief that the treadmill case will falsify the land-racer case. I find the treadmill case dead simple and altogether transparent, but if we want to translate it to a more side-by-side comparison to the land-case, let's take a rugged 100m strip of 1m wide treadmill rubber to the land-course and pull it behind a car, using a second car holding a wind-screen out sideways ahead of the model. At least as a gedankenexperiment, because this sort of thing is beyond my resources. Perhaps Adam Savage might want to pull it off-so to speak-some day. Will the result match what we see in the video? Yes, all things being equal, it should. Our model is going to keep advancing until it reaches the car, and it's very obvious why. The gear ratio and the constant supply of energy guarantees it. It is not analogous to the wind-car arrangement proper.

[@crispinmiller7989]

​@@-danR Some such scenario might be interesting, but that one isn't quite it. The treadmill belt needs to move rapidly rearward with respect to the cart. (Well, I mean, rearward with respect to the air, so then even more rapidly rearward with respect to the cart when the cart starts making its way forward through the air.)

[@coyotelong4349]

Xyla’s Excited “Eureka” Face 😃 never fails to brighten my day

[@harriehoutman5154]

14:20

[@HassanSelim0]

it brightened my entire month 😁

[@outofdarts]

Watching this whole series has been amazing, awesome collaboration!

[@florh]

great reward for being so determined, great job both!!!

[@ramachandran8666]

You are just an amazing woman and a wonderful communicator of STEM facts. I had seen Derek's video on this but just came upon yours and thoroughly enjoyed it. As a Ph.D. scientist and a father of two women one of whom is an engineer and another a doctor, very heartwarming to see such talented women out there sharing their skills and knowledge for the entire world to appreciate

[@johnnybravo5625]

Xyla is absolutely amazing and never fails to impress me.

[@hippyhappyhippo]

I loved this look in to the struggle to prove a concept that you were assured worked. Just changing a few small parameters matters. Great video!

[@ChestnutnagsToolsFromJapan]

So good to see your enthusiasm.

[@MichaelThompson94]

I haven't heard of you until Derek brought you on board for this project, and I can't believe I hadn't! Brilliant work, I'm looking forward to seeing more of your videos.

[@SarahIngleOfficial]

This is so ridiculously cool, Xyla! 🙀 Incredible engineering & stunning aesthetics! One of the things I admire most about your work is that so many of your creations could stand alone equally either for their engineering merit or their artistic value. A lot of people create functional things that also look nice. But with you and your creations, you are truly an incredible artist in every right just as much as you are a phenomenal engineer.

[@Goldy01]

your name spells "S.Ingle" lmaoo

[@SarahIngleOfficial]

@@Goldy01 yeah that made all my school email addresses really interesting

[@davidwilkie9551]

Can anyone be a good Engineer or Mathematician without being Artistic-holistic?

[@EnhancedCognition]

@@davidwilkie9551 Of course they can, but generally do not stand out among their peers who achieve both without limiting the max potential.

[@TheAzharuddin]

Jeez you write some serious essays

[@codemakeshare]

Awesome, and great to show the iterative journey of engineering! One little detail to maybe add: I noticed in Derek's first video, when he used the cart as an explainer prop, that the propeller was mounted "backwards". Most propellers are asymmetric, and have preferred direction. The more rounded part of the blade should face forward, the more hollowed side backwards. As a model airplane builder, it instantly stood out to me, but isn't super obvious otherwise I guess. It seems, watching these two new videos now, that this might have been a confounding factor in some of your earlier versions, additionally to the prop size and pitch - "backwards" the prop efficiency is much, much worse, very ineffective. I was about to comment on it on Derek's initial video, but I didn't, as I thought it doesn't matter, and nobody will read it anyway... now, after seeing how much was at stake beyond just a video explainer prop model, I feel a bit bad about not commenting on it back then! In any case, on the final cart it was right, so you probably figured it out already. Just thought it might be good to know for people who want to replicate it :)

[@OlliArokari]

This caught my eye as well, also came here to comment the same thing 😁 I'll add here another thought for simplicity: A general rule to RC props is that the text on the prop should be facing the forward direction of the model 🙂

[@vanguard6937]

Dont worry bud, you werent the only one to notice. I posted a comment, only for it to be lost on the void. The prop backwards kills thrust, by a lot.

[@johngraves2942]

@@vanguard6937 The idea behind the backwards prop is to convert the power of the tailwind to a propulsive force on the driven wheels. Similar to the principle behind any perpetual motion machine.

[@OlliArokari]

@@johngraves2942 it would still be backwards, even if the wind (from behind) would be what spins the prop 🙂

[@edisonagudelo9437]

I noticed the same... and it was present in almost all versions except by the last one

[@kinchong1]

Awesome performance, with the "can-do" spirit and perseverance ..... kudos to the geekiness in ya !!!!

[@beaniiman]

Fantastic, great video. My dad is a Physics professor and loved it.

[@lxhon]

A true engineer! What would physicists do without us ;). Your passion is contagious, and I haven't felt like this since I worked at CERN, probably around your age. Thanks @Xyla, for taking me down memory lane. Subscribed for life.

[@jasonpatterson8091]

Another significant change you made in the final version was lengthening the vehicle. In the earlier versions your propeller was pointed more downward, so more of the force was directed into the ground rather than to pushing the car forward. Just eyeballing it (based on the geometry of the cars and a bit of trig) I'd guess that the wasted force (maybe 10% on the earlier version) is decreased by 30-40%. Basically you're gaining a few percent thrust with no significant cost. The blackbird, or the earlier vehicles that were built in the 60's - 90's, had a bit more gearing to get the propeller completely horizontal. I understand why you didn't do that, but the smaller angle does make a big difference.

[@donottrustanyonelol]

smart words

[@toxaq]

In the earlier versions the propellors were on backwards.

[@richgilb]

Thiiiis

[@clayz1]

Getting the prop thrust vector to be 90 degrees would yield better results yet, but gearing friction loss would probably be a wash.

[@richgilb]

@@clayz1 Good point! Maybe larger front wheels -> higher axle -> lower angle of attack?

[@jeremiedupont8696]

Awesome video! And I love the background music in the last successful test!

[@reynaldomartinez7978]

That’s cool. You completed the mission. Outstanding. Loved the show so I subscribed. I want to see what’s “NEXT “.

[@llNightRoudll]

This channel is absolutely amazing, I'm lovin this girl and her content, what the hell KZbin, why wouldn't you recommended me this before

[@mumumumah]

13:27 is the best. As an engineer when you build something, whether it be software, electronics, or mechanical, and it works - nothing beats that. Still get that rush at 60 yrs. old. Well done Xyla.

[@bobmybob9493]

I know the feeling, I had that when I finished my custom wireless headphones and I still haven't found anything so far that beats them

[@37rainman]

"as an engineer" this kind of says something about your experience and abilities. Yes, congrats as always to Xyla on a job well done. (I do love her vids). But the device actually does not work under any relevant definition of that word. To test that, put this same model in the middle of, say, a 100ft belt going this same speed. Just as in her vid, it will surge ahead a certain amount, then it will stop, move to the back of the belt and fall off. When it falls off the prop will not even be turning anymore, or be turning VERY slow. By ANY definition of the word, that does not constitute "working". (And no, i do NOT mean it will turn sideways, and thus the run will fail. If it was a run where it was always pointing straight, it will very quickly fail). Every time. As an engineer, your question should be how this could happen, and what these facts demo. Right now, i am wondering if your utube handle doesnt well describe you! Just kidding, friend, just kidding. But, Jeez...........

[@j.nutzmann4363]

The reaction from the astrophysics is wonderful. Good collaboration, good video..!

[@SF-fb6lv]

Xyla - Fantastic job! Real engineering. I like the way you just refused to fail. Subscribed.

[@MeriaDuck]

You, or someone, for instance kiwico, could make a kit for this, with and without 3d printed parts. -edit typo

[@minorlion1327]

Great idea

[@beaksofeagles]

A feeding frenzy for lawyers representing those who get a cut from the propeller...!!!

[@wlockuz4467]

This sounds awesome!

[@MonkeyJedi99]

@@beaksofeagles grumble-grumble stinkin' lawyers...

[@thefreemonk6938]

kiwico?

[@Orynae]

"you can go downwind faster than the wind" People: :0 Me, a sailor: ok yes (Yes I know that this is different because it's _directly_ downwind and not at an angle, but from what I understood of veritasium's video, it's really the same concept because it's the prop blades that are angled)

[@alveolate]

yea i remember derek's perfect 3D animation of two sailboats going round a cylindrical ocean - that's what sold me the first time.

[@Pedritox0953]

This is how I understood it... What's the problem? A ship can go faster than the wind? The answer is YES !! The propeller has high torque but LOW velocity and the wheel has low torque but HIGH velocity... So there's no extra energy, the Veritasium ship can do it !!

[@MrLargePig]

You, sir, get it.

[@deidyomega]

Yeah, this explanation was hard for me, but Derek's video with the cylinder earth was like, "Ohh okay, that makes sense".

[@LockyLawPhD]

Excellent built! Thank you!

[@brandenbc31]

Great work! Building projects in physics was what i lived for at times!! So fun!! One thing I noticed which may have allowed one of your earlier models to work was the propeller orientation. The test vehicle at 5:30 has its prop on backwards so the airfoil of the blades were inverted. Later models it was on correct but it was never mentioned and I bet many people trying to build their own modle from your plans may make this same mistake and not meet success. Anyway grate work this is an awesome mind-blowing project!

[@mannyhoward2353]

Man, I love your enthusiasm on these projects you do. It's infectious. Great content from a great channel. Oh.. and by the way my daughters think you're awesome too :)

[@hweigel528]

15:40 Umm I'm pretty sure Derek should be thanking *YOU*. This video earned him $10,000 lol

[@masterluuk1]

Yes, but he said in his video that he would give it to charity, so he didn't keep it for himself.

[@Milesco]

@@masterluuk1 : True, but he still won the bet! (And bragging rights!)

[@cbeuning]

@@masterluuk1 Not Charity, but giving it to support people with great engineering ideas!! See his competition!

[@patcr6200]

Its just travelling backward on the treadmill actually. The 10,000 dollars should be refunded

[@aotos6042]

@@patcr6200 ?

[@w4shep]

So glad I found your channel. 🙂 My 9-1/2 yr old budding engineer of a son is going to love it !!

[@BrucesShop]

Totally awesome. Congrats from a "self taught, backyard, small engine mechanic". I am 65 years old in body only. At S.A.I.T (Canada) 46 years ago we learned about the perpetual motion machine.

[@ammakko]

14:45 "Do you wanna play with it?" This is the core of the scientific/engineering spirit ^_^

[@notn0t]

Congratulations on the successful build! You're right at the top of the makers I've found this year. I hope the colab with Veritasium brings you many new subscribers and gives you momentum to make more amazing things.

[@al3xj]

Brilliant! And joyful to watch

[@hondolane3125]

Well done! Oh, and yeah, we (model airplane pilots) always scrape, or sand, that mold line at the edge of a nylon/glass prop before putting them on the plane, especially those grey APC props. I've seen guys put one on out of the bag, hand flip it to start the engine and lay their fingers wide open on that sharp edge.

[@lenturtle7954]

What he said Get rid of the molding flash

[@Marc-eh4ib]

The ‘A’ team. “Love it when a plan comes together” perfect guys

[@galtbarber2640]

Finished my build at last night. I made the front axle 12 inches like the video says. The rear axle size was not given, but 5 inches worked well for me. I did NOT need to sand the axles or drive shaft, just put them into the freezer for 10 minutes, and then heat the bearing for 60 seconds in microwave wrapped in 3 very wet paper towels on a dish. Then press the bearing on the shaft, with gentle hammering. Adjustments of bearings on shafts were made with the help of a small vice. Glue-ing with superglue or gorilla glue was a little tricky. The gears are small, and you do not want any on the rotating parts of bearings, etc. Tried to make sure everything was aligned well so less friction, and added some oil to the bearings helped too. Still waiting to find a treadmill to use for testing. Unsurprisingly, it looks just like the one Xyla made. Sadly this prototype is very flimsy. It is probably strong enough to prove the point on a short treadmill test, but I doubt it will hold up to more than that. Probably cannot run it on a street for instance.

[@ronalddump4061]

Do a real test. Put it on a much longer belt of the same speed. You will very quickly see that it actually doesnt work. The test on the treadmill actually wasnt a test at all

[@tomm.149]

@@ronalddump4061 Please add the link to your video supporting your claims. That would be a video showing your build following her plans, a test on a short treadmill where your model works and then a test on long treadmill where the same model fails. I am really looking forward to the link.

[@archimedesmaid3602]

@@tomm.149 Just to be clear. That is not how science works. They made the statement, they made the vid which supposedly supports the statement. But the vid shows no real test of the device. "Amazing claims require amazing proof" ron is entirely within his rights to simply say, no it doesnt work. They need to prove it does work. Functional people prove positives, not negatives. Ron outlined a simple real test, now it is up to them to prove it does work. There would be no end to constantly be trying to prove peoples ignorant assertions are false, because stupidity is infinite, for proof, just look at these utube comments

[@FlyNAA]

@@ronalddump4061 OK here’s one one a much longer belt… actually infinite in length. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJyziGynoZunlaM

[@FlyNAA]

@@archimedesmaid3602 Giving link again since I’m curious what you’ve have to say about it too kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJyziGynoZunlaM

[@dkman123]

I just want to appreciate that the final build purple and the shirt you're wearing when it works sync so nicely.

[@user-sb2pz5px8o]

Neatly worked and aesthetic model of "propeller car"! So cool!