DUCATI MUSEUM & FISICA IN MOTO. OR HOW TO LEARN SOMETHING WITH PASSION
Goodmorning Goodmorning Goodfellas!
Holiday time, the best time!
Or not?
Time to spend doing what you need, hobbies, sport, family!
And you? what are you doing?
I'm at work right now. And not so much time for me.
No, it's fake.
Got time to write, time to spend with my family and tomorrow, time to ski!
So it's not bad.
By the way, I want to tell you what happened that Sunday I went in Bologna, Borgo Panigale.
It was the last Sundays dedicated to FISICAINMOTO.
But damn, I'm a donkey, and I know for really only a few things of physics.
Heritage of my studies in high school.
And so I heard these words to echo in mind: "Think of the seed of your were not born to live as brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge!".
Booked the visit Chiara and me left from Rimini to Borgo Panigale.
And damn...
It's always touching to arrive at Ducati Factory.
Luckily we arrived early for the tour and.. Why don't to take a look at the new Museum?!
Come on and let's take a look!
Ehy!
It changed!
Not too much than it was before.
It's improved!
Now it's divided into functional areas you can see the best of best of Ducati productions.
Desmodue, Desmoquattro, New Era with Panigale and DVT engine..
And the PURE RACER MACHINES..
From the beginning till today!
I'll give an overviwe:
With an L twin in two kinds of configuration: two-valves with 63 hp at over 11000 rpm and a four-valve with 65 hp at 12000 rpm. The last evolution on the two-valves will bring more power: 75hp! But, sometimes, like I told you in the foreword, there is no happy ending. Real and actual testament this GP won only one time in Skofja with Parlotti in 1971.
Testament, right. Because, you have to know that there is also a third version of this GP, called Armaroli, the name of her father. Mr.Armaroli, Engineer in Mondial and after in Ducati, was a pioneer of DOHC four-valve and the toothed belt.
He applied this ploy and changed the exhaust location. Last but least, the ignition!A never born engine, unluckily, cause some tests revealed a lack of power, 1 hp instead of the standard engine. Ducati tested these solutions for years and will bring them to a standard for the Pantha series (toothed belt), ignition and exhaust for the four-valve superbike.
As always time just flew!
And FISICA IN MOTO TOUR was ready to start!
But what is, or does it mean FISICA IN MOTO?
Quoting DUCATI OFFICIAL SITE:Holiday time, the best time!
Or not?
Time to spend doing what you need, hobbies, sport, family!
And you? what are you doing?
I'm at work right now. And not so much time for me.
No, it's fake.
Got time to write, time to spend with my family and tomorrow, time to ski!
So it's not bad.
By the way, I want to tell you what happened that Sunday I went in Bologna, Borgo Panigale.
It was the last Sundays dedicated to FISICAINMOTO.
But damn, I'm a donkey, and I know for really only a few things of physics.
Heritage of my studies in high school.
And so I heard these words to echo in mind: "Think of the seed of your were not born to live as brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge!".
Booked the visit Chiara and me left from Rimini to Borgo Panigale.
And damn...
It's always touching to arrive at Ducati Factory.
Luckily we arrived early for the tour and.. Why don't to take a look at the new Museum?!
Come on and let's take a look!
Ehy!
It changed!
Not too much than it was before.
It's improved!
Now it's divided into functional areas you can see the best of best of Ducati productions.
Desmodue, Desmoquattro, New Era with Panigale and DVT engine..
And the PURE RACER MACHINES..
From the beginning till today!
I'll give an overviwe:
Testament, right. Because, you have to know that there is also a third version of this GP, called Armaroli, the name of her father. Mr.Armaroli, Engineer in Mondial and after in Ducati, was a pioneer of DOHC four-valve and the toothed belt.
He applied this ploy and changed the exhaust location. Last but least, the ignition!A never born engine, unluckily, cause some tests revealed a lack of power, 1 hp instead of the standard engine. Ducati tested these solutions for years and will bring them to a standard for the Pantha series (toothed belt), ignition and exhaust for the four-valve superbike.
A lightweight, compact racer, built with many technical innovations that strongly influenced the design of the 916.
The single cylinder Ducati racer was built with power to weight in mind. Carbon fiber pieces included bodywork, sub frame, fuel tank, rear sets, airbox and instrument housing. Magnesium was used for case covers, chain adjustment covers and triple clamps. Dry weight was 267 pounds (122 kg) 549cc (100 x 70mm) 76 bhp @ 10,500 rpm
CIAO NICKY!
As always time just flew!
And FISICA IN MOTO TOUR was ready to start!
But what is, or does it mean FISICA IN MOTO?
"Fisica in Moto is the interactive physics laboratory entirely dedicated to students from high schools realized inside the historic Ducati factory of Borgo Panigale by Fondazione Ducati in collaboration with the Malpighi High School of Bologna.
The purpose of the laboratory, which is the only one of its kind, is that of creating a bridge between schools and the factory, using the experience of science and technology museums.
Inside the laboratory, it is possible to try out, thanks to some specifically designed and constructed interactive machines, the practical reality of the physical principles studied at school and the link between these and the design of a Ducati motorbike for MotoGP.
The whole program, which has been developed with the help of teachers from the Malpighi High School of Bologna, fits perfectly with the physics program of Italian high schools and technical institutes. Thanks also to the collaboration and support of the Piano Lauree Scientifiche (a national governmental organization devoted to promoting the study of science at university) the activities of the Fisica in Moto laboratory are offered free of charge to students from all schools!".
Ok, let's go inside!
FIRST ROOM
Wait a sec, this is the second room!
But we visited first, cause we were around in 30. Divided into three groups.
This is an innovative scientific laboratory, where you can study physical principles in depth, thanks to four machines specifically designed by Ducati engineers in collaboration with highly qualified suppliers.
The difference between mass and weight, experiments on Newton's second and third principles, the conservation of angular momentum are the main subjects of this room.
FRICTIONLESS SURFACE
A low friction surface and carts provided with ball bearings used to hold cubes of different masses, introduce the role of mass in Dynamics and its difference with weight. How can we relate mass and speed variation?
SEATS OF THE THIRD PRINCIPLE
A low-friction surface and two sporting seats located inside a real ring. Discovering Newton's third law.
ANGULAR MOMENTUM RIDE
Students sit on a motorbike-mounted on a beam which can rotate around an axis which is perpendicular to the beam itself.
The bike can move backwards and forwards along the beam thanks to an electric engine. Once the ride has been set rotating, the students by simply moving along the beam, will markedly change their angular velocity: how is this possible?
SECOND ROOM
Future Engineers Kingdom!
With a Queen of WSBK.
Sorry.
THE QUEEN.
The 916's heir. A very hard work to improve a bike like the 916. Called to take up this mission impossible was Mr.Terblanche. I wrote about this authority in some posts, so I won't talk about his class and genius. But damn, with the 999 he really made the grade. Strange lines and forms turned from a soft and curvy design into the minimalism kingdom. A very sharp design as to cut the air.Everything changed, also the swingarm. Changed also the engine: goodbye desmoquattro, arrived at his own limit of development, Ducati decided to work on the new "testastretta", that equipped the 998 and 996r.
And, unlike the other Ducatis, this bike was created to win immediately, and the 999R was born before the street legal bike.
Presented in 2002, this masterpiece represents the bone of contention. Ducati people was divided: who loved this superbike at first sight, and who hated this design, too futuristic. A sort of betrayal of their own roots. No matter, they were wrong.
Cause won. And won a lot! In WSBK the 999 took part in 120 races and won 63 times, the half. In 5 years won 3 Riders World Championships and 3 Constructor World Championships. PS, talked with Troy, and this is the bike he likes the most.
999cc, 150hp 9750 rpm, over 117 Nm at 8000rpm for only 185kg (407lb).
Trust me or not, it's a bomb, better, it's a Superbomb.
"In this room students, child, and different young people like us, will have the good opportunity to discover the real MotoGP of Physics, learning on four exciting interactive workstations (but we tested only two experiments, cause the others were under maintenance) that the very same physical laws already met before fitting the study of the engine and of motorbike Dynamics also.
The intuitive, but rigorous, study of physical concepts such as torque, power, and gyroscopic momentum will lead each team to acquire the necessary know-how to reach the finish line first".
GYROSCOPIC BIKE
"The students get on a motorbike which is fixed to the ground through a special support which lets them tilt to the side. An electric engine which can be set in motion with the accelerator is connected to the front wheel.
How can riders drive through a corner at a very high speed? How can Physics explain why we bank? When the gyroscopic effect comes into play you can tell the rider's skill to keep the motorbike balanced!".
DUCATI TWIN CYLINDER ENGINE
And please, don't forget the famous Ducati Twin cylinder L-shaped engine! Here we had the possibility to see how does it works, the four phases of the engine and to discovery the 4-stroke engine, with special attention to the details which make Ducati motorbikes unique in the world
THE LAST ROOM
But in the original tour, this should have been the FIRST ROOM.
"This room reproduces the typical environment of a Ducati Service workshop, yes, like a typical Ducati maintenance station that you can find at you local dealer!
And contains some interactive workstations which introduce simply and intuitively the basic concepts of physics such as force and torque, friction, momentum and elastic force. The main aim of this first room, as you can read on the official site first, and test on your own late, is to stimulate curiosity and questions!"
Damn after the tour my questions have multiplied!
IT'S THE MOMENT!
ENGINE ASSEMBLY LINE
What is the clutch for? How does it work? How is the famous Ducati dry clutch made? With the help of a pneumatic wrench like those used on the assembly line, must take apart and reassemble a real clutch, thus discovering all its secrets!
I made a disaster, but it's great!
We had a lot of fun, learned a lot of things, and for sure the best interactive experiences for children!
Testing, touching and learning!
DESMOPOWER
"In every Ducati beats a Desmo heart, but what exactly is the Desmodromic system? What physical principles does it exploit? What are the differences compared with the traditional distribution system? Six dedicated workstations allow students to undercover all the Desmo secrets!"
Ok.
I know.
You fall in love with FISICA IN MOTO.
Easy.
It's normal, cause everything is really treated and cured.
Very specialized guides.
And DAMN FELLAS! ALL IN DUCATI!
WHAT ELSE!?
Thanks to these men, these pioneers, these riders.
Who made the grade with the DESMO.
Who won everything.
Sacrifice.
Passion.
Pain.
And, at the end, the GLORY.
Credits to:
DOTT.SSA CHIARA SANTORO, skilled and professional physicist, curator of educational workshop inside FONDAZIONE DUCATI.
LIVIO LODI, for me, a real person. A friend, a man with the clear ideas, before to play the role of CURATOR OF DUCATI MUSEUM.
As always:
GRAZIE CHIARA, GRAZIE LIVIO.
Di Tutto.
Per aver tinto una domenica grigia a Rimini Rosso Corse a Borgo Panigale.
What else?
It's late...
Ah..
I almost forgot..
The purpose of the laboratory, which is the only one of its kind, is that of creating a bridge between schools and the factory, using the experience of science and technology museums.
Inside the laboratory, it is possible to try out, thanks to some specifically designed and constructed interactive machines, the practical reality of the physical principles studied at school and the link between these and the design of a Ducati motorbike for MotoGP.
The whole program, which has been developed with the help of teachers from the Malpighi High School of Bologna, fits perfectly with the physics program of Italian high schools and technical institutes. Thanks also to the collaboration and support of the Piano Lauree Scientifiche (a national governmental organization devoted to promoting the study of science at university) the activities of the Fisica in Moto laboratory are offered free of charge to students from all schools!".
Ok, let's go inside!
FIRST ROOM
Wait a sec, this is the second room!
But we visited first, cause we were around in 30. Divided into three groups.
This is an innovative scientific laboratory, where you can study physical principles in depth, thanks to four machines specifically designed by Ducati engineers in collaboration with highly qualified suppliers.
The difference between mass and weight, experiments on Newton's second and third principles, the conservation of angular momentum are the main subjects of this room.
FRICTIONLESS SURFACE
A low friction surface and carts provided with ball bearings used to hold cubes of different masses, introduce the role of mass in Dynamics and its difference with weight. How can we relate mass and speed variation?
SEATS OF THE THIRD PRINCIPLE
A low-friction surface and two sporting seats located inside a real ring. Discovering Newton's third law.
ANGULAR MOMENTUM RIDE
Students sit on a motorbike-mounted on a beam which can rotate around an axis which is perpendicular to the beam itself.
The bike can move backwards and forwards along the beam thanks to an electric engine. Once the ride has been set rotating, the students by simply moving along the beam, will markedly change their angular velocity: how is this possible?
SECOND ROOM
Future Engineers Kingdom!
With a Queen of WSBK.
Sorry.
THE QUEEN.
And, unlike the other Ducatis, this bike was created to win immediately, and the 999R was born before the street legal bike.
Presented in 2002, this masterpiece represents the bone of contention. Ducati people was divided: who loved this superbike at first sight, and who hated this design, too futuristic. A sort of betrayal of their own roots. No matter, they were wrong.
Cause won. And won a lot! In WSBK the 999 took part in 120 races and won 63 times, the half. In 5 years won 3 Riders World Championships and 3 Constructor World Championships. PS, talked with Troy, and this is the bike he likes the most.
999cc, 150hp 9750 rpm, over 117 Nm at 8000rpm for only 185kg (407lb).
Trust me or not, it's a bomb, better, it's a Superbomb.
"In this room students, child, and different young people like us, will have the good opportunity to discover the real MotoGP of Physics, learning on four exciting interactive workstations (but we tested only two experiments, cause the others were under maintenance) that the very same physical laws already met before fitting the study of the engine and of motorbike Dynamics also.
The intuitive, but rigorous, study of physical concepts such as torque, power, and gyroscopic momentum will lead each team to acquire the necessary know-how to reach the finish line first".
GYROSCOPIC BIKE
How can riders drive through a corner at a very high speed? How can Physics explain why we bank? When the gyroscopic effect comes into play you can tell the rider's skill to keep the motorbike balanced!".
DUCATI TWIN CYLINDER ENGINE
And please, don't forget the famous Ducati Twin cylinder L-shaped engine! Here we had the possibility to see how does it works, the four phases of the engine and to discovery the 4-stroke engine, with special attention to the details which make Ducati motorbikes unique in the world
THE LAST ROOM
But in the original tour, this should have been the FIRST ROOM.
"This room reproduces the typical environment of a Ducati Service workshop, yes, like a typical Ducati maintenance station that you can find at you local dealer!
And contains some interactive workstations which introduce simply and intuitively the basic concepts of physics such as force and torque, friction, momentum and elastic force. The main aim of this first room, as you can read on the official site first, and test on your own late, is to stimulate curiosity and questions!"
Damn after the tour my questions have multiplied!
IT'S THE MOMENT!
ENGINE ASSEMBLY LINE
What is the clutch for? How does it work? How is the famous Ducati dry clutch made? With the help of a pneumatic wrench like those used on the assembly line, must take apart and reassemble a real clutch, thus discovering all its secrets!
I made a disaster, but it's great!
We had a lot of fun, learned a lot of things, and for sure the best interactive experiences for children!
Testing, touching and learning!
DESMOPOWER
"In every Ducati beats a Desmo heart, but what exactly is the Desmodromic system? What physical principles does it exploit? What are the differences compared with the traditional distribution system? Six dedicated workstations allow students to undercover all the Desmo secrets!"
Ok.
I know.
You fall in love with FISICA IN MOTO.
Easy.
It's normal, cause everything is really treated and cured.
Very specialized guides.
And DAMN FELLAS! ALL IN DUCATI!
WHAT ELSE!?
Who made the grade with the DESMO.
Who won everything.
Sacrifice.
Passion.
Pain.
And, at the end, the GLORY.
Credits to:
DOTT.SSA CHIARA SANTORO, skilled and professional physicist, curator of educational workshop inside FONDAZIONE DUCATI.
LIVIO LODI, for me, a real person. A friend, a man with the clear ideas, before to play the role of CURATOR OF DUCATI MUSEUM.
As always:
GRAZIE CHIARA, GRAZIE LIVIO.
Di Tutto.
Per aver tinto una domenica grigia a Rimini Rosso Corse a Borgo Panigale.
What else?
It's late...
Ah..
I almost forgot..
HAPPY NEW YEAR FELLAS!!
