SI Prep -- Engineering Schedule 2005-06 -- 2nd Quarter

Mr. Philhour and Mr. Cannady

"Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the life-long attempt to acquire it." — Albert Einstein

Engineering (3° & 4°) 2nd Quarter 2005-06

Most recent update December 15, 2005 8:39 AM

Schedule

Week of Tuesday, October 25th: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
- Day 1
  - Short PowerPoint presentation describing Mech. Eng. & careers
  - We will explain our goals for this week. By the beginning of next week, students will understand or know:
    - what we mean by the term ‘mechanical engineering’
    - which professions rely on the principles of mechanical engineering
    - how to interpret or create a free body diagram
    - how to determine a net force through the addition of force vectors
    - how to determine reaction forces through Newton’s 3rd Law
    - how to use a net force to predict motion
    - how to determine a torque (moment) from a force and moment arm
    - how to determine a net torque through the addition of torques
    - how to use a net torque to predict angular acceleration
    - how to begin to sketch objects
    - how professional engineers use their skills to help others
  - Begin work on handouts (finish as homework)
  - HW: free body diagram & net force practice page (Hewitt Conc. Dev.) and English units activity [lbs, ft, mils] to be turned in on Day 2 (tomorrow)
  - Test Corrections: here are the tests -- version A and version B (which test you took depends on your answer to question 16, Trebek); you do not need to include corrections to the half-adder problems, which had an error
- Day 2
- Day 3
  - 3rd period: we'll have a visitor today
  - Collect and grade practice pages from last night's homework
  - Lever Lab: verify that it is not the weight on each side of a balanced yardstick that matters but the torque (or moment) caused by that weight; each group will be given a yardstick and several weights; a large weight placed on its side can act as a pivot point
  - Describe drinking-straw bridge activity and give materials (straws and clay) to each group. Each group should set a schedule for getting the bridge built over the next week: much of the work is intended to be done outside of class.
  - HW: read about the stability of articulated structures at the following websites: stability, determinancy, indeterminancy, more examples

Week of Monday, October 31st : Stability of Structures

Day 1
- Reminder: Engineering students Robert K. and Erik L. are in Room 313 every Wednesday at Noon as TAs for Physics. They'd be happy (I'm sure) to work with you on Engineering problems!
- We will explain our goals for this week. By the beginning of next week, students will understand or know:
  - the properties of basic components of articulated structures (beams, cables, rigid bents, hinges, pins, and rollers)
  - some typical values for dead, live, and dynamic loads
  - how to analyze a structure for stability
  - how a truss works
  - how a series of trusses can provide low-weight mechanical strength
- Lecture/presentation: articulated structures: stability, determinancy, indeterminancy, more examples
- HW: begin the “Big Idea” sheet handout for articulated structures; typical loads // stability of structures worksheet (due Day 2 of next week) ; continue work on drinking-straw bridge
Day 2
- 3rd period: BJP will be on sophomore retreat today.
- MEET IN ALPHA LAB to begin using the Bridge Construction Set (BCS) which can be found on the computers there (look in Start -> Program Files -> Bridge Construction Set (Tuesday for both 3rd and 4th periods)
- Your task is to complete the MEDIUM level by Monday's exam and the HARD level (not the COMPLEX level) by the end of the unit
- HW: continue work on the articulated structures handout, the BCS, and on your drinking-straw bridge
Day 3
- MEET IN ALPHA LAB to continue using the Bridge Construction Set (BCS) (Wednesday for 4th period, Thursday for 3rd period)
- Your task is to complete the MEDIUM level by Monday's exam and the HARD level (not the COMPLEX level) by the end of the unit
- HW: continue work on the articulated structures handout, the BCS, and on your drinking-straw bridge
- Here's the website for the Bridge Construction Set community (including competitions!)
Day 4
- In-class: work on drinking-straw bridges (note change! -- in exchange for delaying the due date, we would like to ask you for your attendance at 5th period on Tuesday of next week for the competition, in the regular room)
- Quiz Q&A
- HW: digital camera / sketching project I and sketching template (find some fingernail clippers to sketch) and continue work on the articulated structures handout, the BCS game , and your bridge project
- Study for quiz on Day 1 of next week

Week of Monday, November 7th: Simple Machines and Bridge Competition

Day 1
- Quiz on Mechanical Engineering material this quarter
- Then, introduce our goals for the week: students will understand or know
  - how an inclined plane transfers horizontal to vertical motion
  - how an inclined plane is used in practice
  - how screws, drills bits, and augers are related to the inclined plane
  - how levers and pulleys (inc. block & tackle) provide mechanical advantage
  - what 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class levers are
  - how conservation of energy can be used to describe simple tools
- HW: Begin simple machines worksheet and read about Cow Tipping
Day 2
- Introduction to simple machines; overhead display with How Things Work
- Websites to help with the simple machines worksheet
  - Gears and Pulleys
  - Levers
- 4th, 5th, 3rd periods: drinking straw competitions (bring your lunch during fifth)
  - Some questions and thier answers:
    - Mr. Cannady's Class
      - Can Clay be used at an anchor at each end of the bridge to attach it to the table? Yes.
      - Where is the two inches measured from? As it states on the sheet, two inches from a straight line across the surface of the tables.
      - Where is the weight supported? On a 4"x4" square at the center and bottom of your bridge.
      - Are grades based on each class or the combined classes? Grades are determined within each class so you are only compared to the best of our period.
      - Voting for aesthetics? Each group gets to vote for the top three bridges in order of best to third best, not every individual
- HW: Continue simple machines worksheet and continue work on digital camera / sketching project I and sketching template
Day 3
- Reminder: Engineering students Robert K. and Erik L. are in Room 313 every Wednesday at Noon as TAs for Physics. They'd be happy (I'm sure) to work with you on Engineering problems!
- Lecture on conservation of energy and its application to simple machines, particularly levers and pulleys
- In-class work on worksheet
- HW: Continue simple machines worksheet and continue work on digital camera / sketching project I and sketching template
Day 4
- Informal Pulley Lab (in preparation; use multiple stations, rotate between, no write-up)
- HW: Continue simple machines worksheet (finish problems 1 through 6 by Monday) and continue work on digital camera / sketching project I and sketching template and on your handout for articulated structures -- all of these will be due MONDAY so nows the time to get caught up.

Week of Monday, November 14th: Simple Machines continued and Rube Goldberg Design Conferences
- Day 1
  - Simple machines worksheet Problems 1 through 6, Articulated Structures Handout, and first sketching project due today
  - Introduce our goals for the week
  - Students will understand or know
    - how wheels, axles, gears, belts, cams, cranks, and escapements reciprocal to rotary motion and vice-versa
    - Another escapement link
    - how these elements are used in practical devices
  - Rotational velocity and relationship to period (omega = 60 / T, where omega is in RPM and T is in seconds)
  - Rolling without slipping (v = 2*pi* r * omega / 60 where r is in ft and omega is in RPM)
  - Continue simple machines worksheet (problems 7 through the end)
  - HW: continue work on worksheet // here's your Mechanical Engineering equation sheet
- Day 2
  - Group design conference for Rube Goldberg project (day 1/3) The tentative date for the competition is DECEMBER 6th
  - Examples of Rube Goldberg Competition
  - By the end of today you should have (a) designed an overarching idea for the project (recall that the theme is 'you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs); (b) read the rules for the Rube Goldberg project thoroughly; (c) chosen the machine and electrical elements you plan to use in the system -- you will show this work to your instructor by the end of the day
  - HW: continue work on worksheet // here's your Mechanical Engineering equation sheet
- Day 3
  - Group design conference for Rube Goldberg Project (day 2/3)
  - By the end of today you should (a) have a very rough idea of the entire process; nothing to scale, just the sequence of events that will take place in the Rube Goldberg machine; (b) split responsibility for elements in the process among group members based on interests & strengths -- you will show this work to your instructor by the end of the day
  - HW: continue work on worksheet and work on scale drawings of your project elements / study for quiz // here's your Mechanical Engineering equation sheet
- Day 4
  - Short Quiz on Simple Machines // here's your Mechanical Engineering equation sheet
  - Group design conference for Rube Goldberg Project (day 3/3)
  - By the end of today you should have a roughly to scale (1:10, say) sketch of the entire project -- you will show this work to your instructor by the end of the day
  - Today we'll be working on paper ... soon, we'll be using a CAD system
  - HW: finish worksheet and compare your results to this solution key; write up a nice solution set for Monday
  - 3rd period: here is the survey/questionnaire you took and the results and analysis; thank you for helping shape this new course

Week of Monday, November 21st : Computer Aided Design of Rube Goldberg Project
- Day 1
  - Simple Machines Worksheet due
  - Go over questions regarding simple machines
  - Explain goals for the next two weeks: students will understand or know
    - how to use a freely available CAD program to produce precise drawings
    - how to estimate costs for materials and labor in fabrication
    - how design relates to fabrication: lathes, mills, grinders, thread tappers, and saws
    - how to build information tables and templates in CAD
  - Work on Rube Goldberg project in-class
  - HW: work on Rube Goldberg project: in particular, collect materials for Day 2 so you can begin entering in dimensions to your CAD drawings
  - NOTE THAT WE ARE GIVING YOU TWO WEEKS WITHOUT FORMAL HOMEWORK SO YOU CAN CONCENTRATE ON YOUR PROJECT. DO NOT WASTE THIS TIME OR WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE
- Day 2
  - Demonstration of CAD program in-class
  - Alpha lab or laptop cart: CAD program (Tuesday for 4th period, Wednesday for 3rd period)
  - Begin work on moving Rube Goldberg project components into CAD format
  - HW: work on Rube Goldberg project
- Thanksgiving!!

Week of Monday, November 28th: Computer Aided Design of Rube Goldberg Project: Testing and Debugging
- Day 1
  - Alpha/Beta lab or laptop cart: CAD program (Monday 11/28 for 3rd and 4th periods)
  - Continue work moving Rube Goldberg project components into CAD format
  - HW: work on Rube Goldberg project: at this point you should be in the testing/debugging phase with a complete project
- Day 2
  - We have reserved the Alpha/Beta lab or laptop cart: CAD program (Tuesday 11/29 for 3rd and 4th periods)
  - Continue work moving Rube Goldberg Project components into CAD format
  - HW: work on Rube Goldberg project: at this point you should be in the testing/debugging phase with a complete project
- Day 3
  - In-class work on Rube Goldberg project: bring parts for a MOCK RUNTHROUGH TODAY
  - HW: work on Rube Goldberg project: at this point you should be in the testing/debugging phase with a complete project
- Day 4
  - Meet in class ... then go to boiler room
  - We have reserved the Alpha/Beta lab or laptop cart: CAD program (Thursday 12/1 for 4th period; Friday 12/2 for 3rd period)
  - HW: work on Rube Goldberg project: at this point you should be in the testing/debugging phase with a complete project

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Friday's after-school talk for ENGINEERING has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. We'll reschedule for January/February.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTICE: We have changed the rules for the Rube Goldberg Project slightly: we will now allow you to plug directly into a wall outlet. We'll provide a single three-prong, 120 VAC outlet. You may not hook up anything dangerous to this, nor can you wire 120 VAC circuits on your own without supervision. Also, it is important to note that failure to complete any part of the project leads to a loss of points, not a 'fail' grade for the course.

Week of Monday, December 5th : Rube Goldberg Project Competition Week
- Day 1
  - In-class work on Rube Goldberg project (meet in class, then go to boiler room)
  - HW: work on Rube Goldberg project: at this point you should be in the final phase with a complete project, and just doing testing and debugging
- Day 2
  - In-class work on Rube Goldberg project (meet in class, then go to boiler room)
  - HW: work on Rube Goldberg project: at this point you should be in the final phase with a complete project, and just doing testing and debugging
- Day 3
  - In-class work on Rube Goldberg project (meet in class, then go to boiler room)
  - HW: work on Rube Goldberg project: at this point you should be in the final phase with a complete project, and just doing testing and debugging
- Day 4
  - 4th, 5th periods on Thursday: Rube Goldberg Projects for 4th period Engineering (bring your lunch during fifth!!)
  - 5th period on Thursday, 3rd period on Friday: Rube Goldberg Projects for 3rd period Engineering (bring your lunch during fifth!!)
  - Order for 3rd period on Friday: 4, 1, 6, 2, 5, 3 (generated with random.org)
  - 3rd period RG groups: (1) Jessica, Monika, Neil, Sam; (2) Justin, Robert, Erik, Kirsten; (3) Andrew, Julian, Dan, Rich; (4) John, Danny, Brett, Scott; (5) Colin, Aron, Ryan; (6) Kelly, Willy, Kirk
  - HW: catch up on old work -- study the two quizzes from the Mech Eng. unit; formulate questions for Monday (see below)

ATTENTION, ATTENTION - Chronic Logic has announced a new bridge builder contest. It starts December 6th and ends January 8th. For more information click here.

Week of Monday, December 12th : Wrap up Mechanical Engineering
- Day 1 (Activity Schedule)
  - Visit from Engineering student at Cal, a former Google employee and an all-around interesting guy
  - Bring your questions about what its like to be an engineer in college and what kinds of engineering are worth pursuing
  - Clean up Rube Goldberg projects (time permitting)
  - Begin final exam review
- Day 2 (Activity Schedule)
  - Rube Goldberg cleanup
  - Continue final exam review
- Day 3 (Activity Schedule)
  - Visit from a second engineer (3rd period only)
  - Continue final exam review
  - Here's your Mechanical Engineering equation sheet
  - As promised, here are some solutions to the practice test we handed out in class (whoops looks like I accidently used diameter instead of radius for a few, sorry =) BJP)
Final Exam Friday, Dec 16th, 8:30 AM (Room 313 for 3rd period, Room 117 for 4th period)

Coming up next semester: more Automotive Engineering, Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, etc.) & Hybrid Cars, Aeronautical Engineering (how planes fly), Telecommunications & Robotics, other topics...

Unit III: Automotive Engineering [6 weeks]

Good websites: Family Car Classroom, How Stuff Works: Auto Section
Introduction to the major components of two- and four-stroke engines
- wheels, axles, suspension, steering, and differential
- transmission (manual vs. automatic) & clutches
- braking
- fuel injection vs. carburation
- ignition
- distributors, valves, lubrication, cooling, and the camshaft
- fuel and emissions
Delivery of torque/power to wheels
Electric-powered vehicles
Written problem set solutions for automotive engineering problems
Hands-on work with a small two-stroke engine, such as a lawnmower or other small engine (2nd semester)
Supervised work on basic automobile engine and drive components (2nd semester)
Possible: design, construction, and testing in the laboratory of a small electric vehicle (contest)
Possible: field trip to an automobile design or repair facility (BMW facility downtown?)
Round-table discussions and short presentations to address challenges and demonstrate solutions

(For some reason, I am unable to delete this site in my Macromedia Contribute web-authoring program. Thus I have to put it at the bottom of the page. Isn't that weird?)

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