1. Audi R8 By Bryn Zeman-Witzel Picture from:

2. Bryn Zeman-Witzel P.3 Science Anchor Project: Properties of Matter.

3. Function
The function of the Audi R8 is to provide transportation. Speed and luxury are also primary goals of this design.

4. Parts and Major Materials
Aluminum Engine
Carbon Fiber Side-Blades
Next slide
Ceramic Brakes
Picture from:

5. Engine
The engine is made of a few different aluminum alloys, the cylinder block is cast out of an aluminum alloy with incorporated silicon crystals.
One property of this material is it is lightweight. This is important because the lighter a car is the car is the less work is takes to move it.
The silicon crystals also give the aluminum another property, strength and hardness. This property is important because if any part of the engine brakes or is damaged, the engine may stop functioning.
Go back to Parts and Major Materials
Picture from:

6. SIDE-BLADES The side-blades of the R8 are made out of carbon fiber.
One property of carbon fiber that makes it suitable for the side-blades is it’s lightweight. Lightweight materials are important to this vehicle because it is easer to move a lighter object then a heavy one. (The car can go faster with the same amount of force applied by the engine.)
Another property of carbon fiber it is very malleable without melting. The temperatures needed to make the carbon fiber malleable are far cooler then the temperatures needed to melt steel or aluminum. Since carbon fiber does not need to be melted the process can be completely automated which takes away the cost of paying employees.
Go back to Parts and Major Materials
Picture from:

7. Brakes
The brakes on the R8 are made from a ceramic compound reinforced with carbon-fiber.
One property that makes ceramic suitable is the heat from the brakes dissipates quickly instead of holding the heat in. This is important because when to much brake fade* occurs it can increase the stopping distance and decrease the efficiency of the brakes which is dangerous especially when you are in a car with a top speed of 187 MPH.
Another property of the ceramic that makes it suitable for this car is when the ceramic wears down the dust produced is an off white color (instead of being black).This is important because it makes the wheels look cleaner and can increase the time between washings.
* Brake Fade - this term describes when you partially or completely lose braking power.
Picture from:
Go back to Parts and Major Materials

8. HISTORY OF CARBON FIBER
Carbon fibers where first used by Thomas Edison in the late 1800s as filaments for his early light bulbs. In Menlo Park, N J.
These filaments where made from carbonized bamboo or cotton and where used because they can withstand the high temperatures that are present in the early bulbs once the filaments reached incandescent without burning. In the 1950s Rayon was used to make carbon fibers with high tinsel strength.
The original carbon fibers Edison created have changed over time. Today the fibers are woven together in different configurations depending on what they will be used for. The fibers are also coted in rayon, pitch or polyacrylonitrile to give them more rigidity. Edison’s fibers where not coated.
Picture from:

9. IMPROVING THE R8
I think the R8 could be improved by adding a semi- transparent interactive windshield.
This would be good because not only would it be cool but it would allow the driver and passenger to have all the benefits of a phone, information from the internet and the benefits of a GPS without having to take their eyes off the road.
Picture from:

10. Bibliography
. "2012 Audi R8 GT, Audi R8 Spyder, Audi R8." AUDI OF AMERICA. AUDI OF AMERICA, n.d. Web. 2 Nov
Aluminum." Chemicool Periodic Table. Chemicool.com. 15 Oct Web. 10/21/2012 <
"TECHNICAL." Dragon Plate. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct
. "Carbon Fiber." Textile Learner. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct
" Why Ceramic Brake Pads?." Tire Rack. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov
Jamie Page Deaton. "How Brake Pads Work." How Stuff Works. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct
Todd, Johnson. "History of Carbon Fiber." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov
. "Molding Carbon Fiber Components." PCMI Manufacturing Integration. N.p.. Web. 4 Nov