Latest news with #fluiddynamics
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Motorists told ‘do not blast air con in cars' – the fluid dynamics trick you should try to cool it down instead
BLASTING you car's AC to battle the summer heat can be a costly venture. Thankfully, there's a simple trick you can use instead, and it won't cost you a thing. 2 An Instagram user Hannah Fry, who has a PhD in fluid dynamics, shared the genius life hack. And with yet another stint of soaring temperatures across the UK, now is the time to try it out. According to Hannah, you can cool down the inside of your car in seconds using a simple scientific method. With temperatures set to spike as high as 33 degrees Celsius in certain areas, now is the time to beat the summer heat. But don't waste time and money running your car's air con on the highest setting. Free hack Instead, make use of fluid dynamics to cool your car's interior by strategically opening certain doors and windows. "Don't bother putting on the air con, that would take about five minutes, it's not worth it," Hannah explained. She stepped out of the driver's seat to demonstrate the quick car cooling technique. Hannah recommended opening the window on the opposite side of the driver's seat. After rolling down the back window, she "very quickly" hopped out of her car. "I mean you do look a bit like an idiot if you do this - but you just very quickly open and close the driver's doors," she said as she carried out the step. Hannah rapidly opened and closed the car door three times before re-entering the vehicle. She told her followers that the car's interior already felt significantly cooler than before. Scientific method The Instagrammer detailed the scientific method behind her approach. She explained how swinging the door outward pushes away all the air in its path. How to keep cool in a heatwave Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS... Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes. Keep your living space cool. Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep. This then creates a low-pressure zone between the driver's seat and the door. According to the scientist, this sets up something called bulk flow, drawing the "hot sweaty horrible air" inside outwards. This is then replaced with "nice fresh easy air" ensuring your space is "suddenly beautifully temperate". Hannah recommended swinging your door open and closed three to four times to see the best results. More heatwave hacks Or if you still prefer to use your car's AC, use this budget buy to elevate it further. And avoid keeping these six items in your car during the soaring summer temperatures. Another kitchen staple can also help to keep your car cool in a heatwave. Plus, how to look out for symptoms of your body overheating this summer. 2
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
BBC star reveals how to instantly cool down a 'boiling car' in a heatwave, saying tip is: 'better than air-con'
Anyone who's ever returned to a holiday hire car that's been left in the full glare of a scorching sun will know that frying an egg on the bonnet is an entirely realistic scenario - alongside scalding seatbelt buckles, burning hot seats and 'hairdryer' air. While blasting icy air-con is effective, it takes a while to kick in - but scientist and BBC presenter Hannah Fry has a clever trick up her sleeve for ridding a vehicle of hot air in seconds. The presenter, who has 1.3million followers on Instagram, shared the science-based hack ahead of this weekend's heatwave, with temperatures expected to soar to in the UK to 34C. Yesterday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the alert to cover five regions of England - the East Midlands, South East, South West, East and London. A yellow health alert has also been issued for the Yorkshire and Humber and West Midlands regions. Both alerts begin at 12pm tomorrow and end at 6pm next Tuesday. It's a similar picture across the Med too, with much of Southern Spain expecting 38C on Sunday and parts of Southern Italy set to rise to 37C. Fry, 41, who has a PHD in fluid dynamics, the study of how liquids and gases flow, said a few simple moves could help dramatically cool a car in seconds. In the video, she says 'Don't bother putting on the air-con, that would take about five minutes - it's not worth it'. Hannah is then seen opening the rear passenger left hand side window - but says any window on the opposite side to the driver's will do. The next move, she admits, might make people 'look like a bit of an idiot' and involves very quickly opening and closing the driver's door - but, she says, the hack starts to immediately cool the car. How does it work? Hannah explains: 'When you open and close the door, and you do it quickly, the door, as it's moving outwards, sweeps out all of the air that's in the way, creating this area of low pressure.' The science whizz continues: 'That creates something called bulk flow, which means all of the hot, sweaty, horrible air inside the car is drawn outwards.' Pointing at the open window on the other side of the car, Hannah says: 'And the only way to re-fill it is with nice, fresh, easy air from over that side.' She adds: 'It only takes two or three goes and suddenly it's beautifully temperate'. The hack has sparked plenty of responses, with BBC radio star Zoe Ball posting: 'Trying this NOW'. One person, from Australia, said there was no shame in looking silly if it made for a cooler car, saying: 'I will try that and no one in Australia would ever be embarrassed trying anything to cool down our cars before we get in. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hannah Fry (@fryrsquared) The scientist, who has PHD in flow dynamics, explained how simply opening a window on one side of the car, and then rapidly opening and closing a car door on the other side can kick-start bulk flow, which sees hot air displaced with cooler air 'Most times we can't even touch the steering wheel or the belt buckle in the summer.' Another impressed follower added: 'This may be the best reel I have ever seen.' One person said it might take a little more than flow dynamics to outwit a Sunshine State summer, saying: 'I mean this DOES work, but "temperate" might be a pretty bigvstretch for those of us in Florida. Lol. I have a burn scar on my thigh from my seat belt.' In the UK in the coming days, the Government agency has warned that significant impacts are likely across health and social care services, including an increase in demand, during the alert period. The UK's hottest day of the year so far was recorded last Saturday when Charlwood in Surrey reached 33.2C (91.8F) – but this could be beaten over the coming days.
The Sun
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
The exact way to get your car to cool down in seconds for the school run WITHOUT AC, according to genius science formula
A SAVVY maths professor has shared the easy way to get your car cool in seconds for the school run. Hannah Fry, from the UK, took to social media to give us all a lesson in fluid dynamics. 2 2 Cars can become super hot in the summer, and it often takes a while for the AC to kick in and cool it down. But Hannah shared the simple trick to get it cool in seconds. She said: "You know that thing when you get into your car in the summer and it's absolutely boiling hot? "There's actually a flow dynamics trick that you can use to quickly cool your car down. That's what my PhD's in, flow dynamics." Instead of putting the air conditioning on, she rolled down the window behind the driver's seat and stepped out of the car. Then, using the passenger side door, she would stand and open and shut it quickly for a few seconds. Hannah did this a few times before getting back in the car as she was getting embarrassed. "The reason why it works is that when you open and close the door, especially if you do it quickly, the door, as it's moving outwards, it sweeps out all of the air that's in its way, creating this sort of area of low pressure that you get here," she explained. "Then that sets up something called bulk flow, which is where all of the hot, sweaty, horrible air inside the car is drawn outwards. And the only way to refill it is with nice, fresh, easy air from over that side. "It takes about two or three goes and suddenly it's absolutely beautifully temperate." Aldi is selling a 'rechargeable' essential for just $9.99 – shoppers say they'll be 'wearing one all day' this summer The clip has since gone viral on her TikTok account @ fryrsquared with over 1.9 million views and 150k likes. The clever hack comes just in time for summer and people were grateful for the advice. One person wrote: "Never be embarrassed about fluid dynamics, babe." Another commented: "you lowkey deserve to be nominated for the Nobel Prize." How to keep cool in hot weather Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS... Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes. Keep your living space cool. Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep. "I've done this always with zero understanding of fluid dynamics…Am I a genius?" penned a third. Meanwhile a fourth said: "My dad used to tell me off for doing this as a kid, can't wait to show him I was actually just a child genius." "This is genius!' claimed a fifth
