Hey there, Smarty Pants.
Trusty Narrator, here back with another episode of Smarty Q, where I answer questions submitted by you, the Smarty Pants.
What could be better than that?
Let's get started.
Okay, question one.
Smarty fans Dorothy and Elizabeth want to know, how do people breathe?
That is a great question.
Breathing is something we all do all day long, about 20000 times per day, without even thinking about it.
But how does breathing work?
Well, first you inhale, which means air goes in through your nose or mouth.
The air travels down your trachea, or windpipe.
It then enters your lungs, which are like two big spongy balloons.
Inside your lungs are tiny air sacs called alveoli.
Oxygen from the air moves into your bloodstream and your blood carries oxygen everywhere in your body, to your brain, muscles and organs.
Finally, when you exhale, your body gets rid of carbon dioxide, a waste gas.
And that's how breathing keeps you alive while delivering fuel, or oxygen, to every cell.
Okay, on to question number two, from Cooper in North Carolina who wants to know how did the world form?
Wow, that is a big question, my smarty friend.
The short version?
Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago from space dust.
Here's what scientists know.
The sun formed first.
Leftover gas and dust spun around it in a giant disk.
Bits of rock started bumping into each other and sticking together.
Over millions of years, these pieces formed a huge ball, early Earth.
Volcanoes, asteroids, and heat melted parts of the planet.
Eventually, the surface cooled, oceans formed, and life began.
This is called the nebular theory, and it's the best scientific explanation we have.
Okay, moving on to question number three, from my smarty friend from Spotify Miguel, who asks When were gas stations invented?
Hmm.
Let's see.
Gas stations go way back, over 100 years.
The first purpose-built gas station opened in 1905 in St.
Louis, Missouri.
Before that, people bought gasoline from general stores or even drug stores.
By the 1920s, gas stations were everywhere as more people bought cars.
They evolved from little huts with hand-pumped fuel to the giant convenience stores and fueling centers we know today.
All right, we are just chugging along right here.
We've got more questions to answer right after this quick break and a word from our sponsors.
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I'll do anything for the fans.
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Now back to SmartEQ and our next question from Ozzy in Los Angeles.
Ozzy wants to know, why is a set of stairs called a flight?
That is a great vocabulary question, Ozzy.
A flight of stairs has nothing to do with flying, but with movement upward.
The word flight comes from an old word meaning a series of steps going up.
The same way, a flight of birds means a group moving together.
A flight of stairs equals one interrupted set of steps between two floors.
So if you go upstairs to a landing, then another set, that's two flights.
And there you have it.
Okay, fifth and final question.
This one comes from Smarty Pants Rory, James, Henry, Ben, and Oliver.
They want to know, how and why do aerodynamics matter for speed and cars?
Ooh, race car science.
Better buckle up.
Well, first off, what is aerodynamics?
Aerodynamics is how air moves around things that are moving, like cars.
When a car drives fast, air pushes against it.
To go faster, the car needs to reduce air resistance or drag increase downforce, which is the force pushing the car onto the road, and stay stable at high speeds.
Why does that matter?
Well, for one thing, Speed.
A car with good aerodynamics slices through the air like a shark through the water.
Also, better gas mileage.
Less drag equals less fuel needed.
And finally, safety.
Downforce keeps race cars from lifting off the track.
And that wraps up another exciting episode of Smart EQ, Smarty Pants.
Remember, if you have a question you'd like me to answer on Smart EQ, have an adult help you.
Email me at whosmarted, at whosmartedcom.
Until next time, happy smarting.
