Synopsis
James May uncovers the fascinating science of engineering, giving a 'nuts and bolts' account of how things really work though a mix of animation and motion graphics.
- Programme: James May's Things You Need to Know
- Series: 2
- Episode: 05:...about Engineering
- Channel: BBC Two
- Broadcast year: 2013
- Science
Licence: ERA Licence required
Free to watch for UK schools, colleges and universities with an ERA Licence
UK only
Staff and students of licensed education establishments only
Cannot be adapted
Add Notes
More clips from James May's Things You Need to Know
S02E01:...about Einstein | James May's Things You Need to Know
S02E01:...about Einstein | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May reveals what you need to know about Albert Einstein and his theories, including what E=mc2 actually ...
S02E02:...about Brains | James May's Things You Need to Know
S02E02:...about Brains | James May's Things You Need to Know
Do you really know what is happening inside your head? James May cranks open your cranium to find out about beha...
S02E03:...about Evolution | James May's Things You Need To Know
S02E03:...about Evolution | James May's Things You Need To Know
You might relish cabbage about as much as a two-month bout of chickenpox, but would you consider it as a leaf...
S02E04:...about Speed | James May's Things You Need to Know
S02E04:...about Speed | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains all you need to know about speed with a fast-moving mix of animation and motion graphics, incl...
S02E06:...about Chemistry | James May's Things You Need to Know
S02E06:...about Chemistry | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May distills the essence of all you need to know about chemistry, including how pheromones work, if lea...
Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains about speed, using a fast-moving mix of animation and graphics. Here he explores why te...
More resources about Engineering and Manufacturing
Episode 1 | Building Cars: Secrets Of The Assembly Line
Episode 1 | Building Cars: Secrets Of The Assembly Line
As the Mini turns 60, buckle up for an incredible journey into the secret world of the car factory. Every 68 seconds ...
S06E06: Chairs | Inside the Factory
S06E06: Chairs | Inside the Factory
Gregg Wallace visits the Ercol factory in Buckinghamshire to follow the production of a Windsor chair. Meanwhile, Cherry Healey investiga...
02: The Computer | Inventions That Changed the World
02: The Computer | Inventions That Changed the World
In Victorian times, computing involved crunching numbers with a pencil and paper. A century later, we rely on computers ...
Episode 1 | The Five Billion Pound Super Sewer
Episode 1 | The Five Billion Pound Super Sewer
Following workers across London as they race to build an enormous supersewer. The first episode follows the creation of the fi...
03: The Jet | Inventions That Changed the World
03: The Jet | Inventions That Changed the World
Jeremy Clarkson tells the story of how Frank Whittle pioneered the jet engine and goes around the globe to explore the impact...
06: Runways | World's Most Extreme
06: Runways | World's Most Extreme
Exploring the world's most dangerous and inspirational runways.
Episode 2 | The Five Billion Pound Super Sewer
Episode 2 | The Five Billion Pound Super Sewer
Following workers across London as they race to build an enormous supersewer. The first episode follows the creation of the fi...
S02E04: Bicycles | Inside the Factory
S02E04: Bicycles | Inside the Factory
Gregg Wallace visits Britain's largest bicycle factory, which produces 150 folding bikes every day, and joins a production line to make...
S05E02: Wax Jackets | Inside the Factory
S05E02: Wax Jackets | Inside the Factory
Gregg Wallace is in South Shields at a clothing factory where they produce 650 waxed jackets a day.
Episode 3 | The Five Billion Pound Super Sewer
Episode 3 | The Five Billion Pound Super Sewer
Following workers across London over three years as they race to build an enormous supersewer on time and on budget. In this e...
Melting metals | Inside the Factory
Melting metals | Inside the Factory
Gregg Wallace explores the process of melting together the metals to the a cast iron pot.
Quality control | Inside the Factory
Quality control | Inside the Factory
Gregg Wallace visits the quality control area of the factory.
S03E01E1: Air Fryer | The Secret Genius of Modern Life
S03E01E1: Air Fryer | The Secret Genius of Modern Life
Hannah takes a look at the air fryer - a device that is rapidly taking over people's kitchens, cooking up everything f...
S03E03: Egypt | Local Heroes
S03E03: Egypt | Local Heroes
Adam Hart-Davis travels to Egypt in search of the earliest heroes of science. Using a drinks can and a stove, he recreates Hero of Alexandria's ...
The Secrets of the Mary Rose | Timewatch
The Secrets of the Mary Rose | Timewatch
Over 20 years after the Tudor warship Mary Rose was lifted from Portsmouth harbour, maritime archaeologists return to the wreck site.
02: Roads | World's Most Extreme
02: Roads | World's Most Extreme
Exploring the world's most dangerous and inspirational roads.
Concorde: A Supersonic Story
Concorde: A Supersonic Story
The life of the most glamorous plane ever built, as told by the people whose lives she touched. Narrated by Sophie Okonedo.
Creating moulds | James May's Man Lab
Creating moulds | James May's Man Lab
James re-forms some impractical kitchen items into the perfect lemon squeezer in his very own foundry.
Electrolysis of aluminium | Inside the Factory
Electrolysis of aluminium | Inside the Factory
Cherry travels to Scotland to visit the UK's last remaining factory that produces aluminium via smelting and electrolysis.
Enamel | Inside the Factory
Enamel | Inside the Factory
Gregg Wallace investigates the enamelling process for the cast iron pots.
More from James May
Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
Why Do Cats Have Nine Lives? | James May's Things You Need to Know
James May explains about speed, using a fast-moving mix of animation and graphics. Here he explores why te...
S01E01 | James May's Cars of the People
S01E01 | James May's Cars of the People
James May discovers how cars became an everyday part of people's lives. His journey begins in Europe, where he reveals a tale of war,...
S01E06: Music | Dara O'Briain's Science Club
S01E06: Music | Dara O'Briain's Science Club
Dara O Briain and his expert team examine the science behind music. James May explores how music is linked to our emotions and M...
Creating moulds | James May's Man Lab
Creating moulds | James May's Man Lab
James re-forms some impractical kitchen items into the perfect lemon squeezer in his very own foundry.
06: Big City, Bright Lights | James May's 20th Century
06: Big City, Bright Lights | James May's 20th Century
Each day 180,000 people move into a city somewhere on the planet. James May investigates how the high-rise urban livin...