ENGINEERING

toc =Welcome to our Engineering Class!=

Our iCal address is webcal://seneca.fivetowns.net/calendars/Engineering.ics which you can copy and paste into iCal.

Feb 28
Most of today I want to use discussing 'composites' and answer questions like; Why fiberglass? Why foam? What's resin? We might also try to do some research on aerodynamics. We'll use this [|NASA] sight to do that investigation.

Feb 26
Welcome back from break. Take this quiz on the rules of TARC & MWBC. Today we'll start talking about the Maine Wind Blade Challenge--specifically talking about blades and their aerodynamics. We covered a good deal of information on lift, drag, stall, etc. as it relates to blades. You homework is to write a one page discussion on the number of blades you think we should ... and why.

Feb 1
Today we discussed formulas for judging our water bottle & paper pyramids! Homework
 * By the end of the day you should email Mr. Nystrom your rocket, AND, upload your rocket to our Google Doc folder "
 * Over the weekend, use this to evaluate two of your peers' rockets.

**Jan 24** The objectives today will be Homework: By next Friday you need to have a simulated rocket which will meet the TARC standards. To that end, or in addition to it, I'd like you to start adding information to a file about rockets--a collection of core knowledge. At your leisure, download the West Point Bridge software. It's possible we will never do anything with this, but when we do, I'd rather not wait for the downloads.
 * Go over the basics of the rocket software and discuss the learning curve. We'll also introduce the TARC challenge laid out in the shared folder
 * discuss the paper challenge from last class. What did we know, what worked, why, what failed, why, what constitutes a winner, why? Yeah, all these 'why's.
 * Discuss the forms you turned in last class: iCal is the preferred calendar, most of you have digital cameras (though 3 of you only have one on the laptops), you need to know that you have skills & what they are, you want to know the different kinds of engineers, and you're in this class to get a feel for the engineering process.
 * What's the engineering process?

Jan 22
You're here on the first day. Here are the links you will need today.
 * Open this Google Document
 * If time allows, download OpenRocket software
 * Homework: come to class with a basic rocket, bonus if it fires off

Worth It
These are things which are worth your time to watch, read, or listen to.
 * Imagine the technology that goes into the Dakar race! Wow!
 * [|Building a robotic bird]. This from Markus Fischer at a TED talk about making a robotic bird.
 * On failed structures
 * [|Tacoma Narrows Bridge]
 * Hyatt Regency walkway Notice the cross sectional view of the design and actual construction
 * A [|robotic creature] which moves ... like a human, made out of pvc tubing. A TED talk by Theo Jansen.
 * [|Regina Dugan]: From mach-20 glider to humming bird drone
 * [|The Missing Basics]: What Engineers Don't Learn & Why They Need to Learn It ([|slides])