Intro to engineering ideas
Intro to engineering ideas
(OP)
Our firm goes to local middle and high schools to talk to the students about a career in engineering. All of the material that we have is from the 1980's and is kind of lame. My boss just wants us to go there, show an old video and tell the students what classes they need to take in highschool to prepare them for an engineering college. Boring!! I would like to maybe incorporate an activity or show some more up to date material. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Keep in mind, this presentation is only 1 class period long.
Thanks
Thanks






RE: Intro to engineering ideas
RE: Intro to engineering ideas
A few basic ideas:
2 empty coke cans one empty, one filled with sand, ask them to guess which one will take the most load.
A demo involving water.
A buckling demo using a plastic ruler (bending/compression around strong and weak axes) then put a restraint in the middle and demonstrate how much stronger it is.
RE: Intro to engineering ideas
http://www.wti.montana.edu/Education/OutReach.aspx
RE: Intro to engineering ideas
Hands on activities are the best since the class can see and touch. We use 1 x 4 lumber and do the same thing. The class always ask why the wood bends visibly when loaded one way and not the other.
Videos are good but the class members only have a 20 to 25 minute attention span and they may get bored.
RE: Intro to engineering ideas
Another one I like is the demonstration of a cantilever bridge that was used to demonstrate the principle for the Forth Rail Bridge back in the late 1800's.
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RE: Intro to engineering ideas
RE: Intro to engineering ideas
RE: Intro to engineering ideas
I also do a three day thing with a popsicle stick bridge problem from time to time. Good luck.
RE: Intro to engineering ideas
RE: Intro to engineering ideas
Crumbled bridges and collapsed buildings, tragic though they may be, generate a lot more excitement/interest and provide a much more dramatic and lasting impression of what stress analysis is, and why engineers are important (who else ya gonna blame? :)
RE: Intro to engineering ideas
This site offers a few ideas:
http://www