Download Powerpoint - Outreach - University of Wisconsin

ProCSI Day 1 –
Mechanical Engineering
Simulation Based Engineering Lab
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Prepared by: Justin Madsen
Welcome!
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Day 1 of the ProCSI program
What to expect during SBEL Modules:
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One hour discussion of theme of the day
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We want to hear everyone’s questions and opinions
Rest of day will be hands-on activities
What to NOT expect:
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Long lectures
Tests, quizzes, homework & other boring stuff
ProCSI SBEL Modules
Daily Themes
Module Objectives
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2)
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5)
Introduce a central theme in Engineering
Demonstrate the theme
Detail “what it takes”
Let you try it
Getting feedback from You
Day 1 – Mechanical Engineering
Today’s topics
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What is engineering?
Things engineers make that affect our everyday
lives
How do engineers do what they do?
Tools for the job:
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Measurements
Knowledge of physical laws
What is engineering?
What is engineering?
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From the dictionary: “The
practical application of science to
commerce or industry”
Engineers understand the laws of
physics, chemistry, mathematics,
etc.
They apply this knowledge to
their analyses and designs
Example: Electrical Engineers
understand electricity and circuits
to build a better micro-chip
What is engineering?
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Can you think of things that engineers make that
you see everyday?
Here are a few examples of things engineers make
that affect our everyday lives
What is engineering?
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Aerospace Engineering
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Biomedical Engineering
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Commercial and military
jets, spacecraft
Medical instruments,
prosthetics
Materials Engineering
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Design and manufacture
new materials
Engineering skills
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How do Engineers do what they do?
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Learn the science related to their field
Chemical Engineers focus on Chemistry
 Civil Engineers Strength of Materials and Structures
 Mechanical Engineers focus on, Dynamics,
Mathematics, Physics
Apply their knowledge
of science and math
 This is the hard part
 Mostly problem
solving
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Problem solving activity
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Shooting a 3 point shot in basketball
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If we want to figure out the best way to take a 3 point shot,
how would we go about it?
Step 1: Identify what is important in the problem
 Hint: what can be measured?
Problem solving activity
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What does this problem have to do with
engineering?
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Problem is relevant (NBA players make $$$)
Need to know math and physics to identify what is
important, and to solve the problem
Using math and physics to find the ‘optimal’
way to shoot a 3 point shot has been done
before…
Holger Geschwinder
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Dirk Nowitzki’s mentor and shooting coach
Excerpt from NBA.com interview:
Q: You have studied physics and mathematics. There is
talk you’ve once calculated the optimal shot curve...
HG: It’s true. Well, you need to do just that in order to find out
whether there is an optimal shot or not.
Q: So?
HG: Of course there is one! The reflection behind it is quite
simple. How do you have to throw the ball so that, despite
committing as many mistakes as possible, it still finds its way
through the net. It’s a question of error tolerance. But every
college student should be able to make the same calculations.
Take differential and integral calculus. Make some derivations
and create a curve. Everybody can do it. It’s no secret. The
optimal angle depends on the player’s height and the
distance. I’ve calculated it for Dirk and my other players.
Recap
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Engineers apply science and math to create
everything from new cars to better NBA three point
shooters
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They use their knowledge to identify what is
important in their problem
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Then use math and science to problem solve and
come up with a solution
Laws of Physics
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Why can’t cars go as
fast as airplanes?
Why is an icy sidewalk
hard to walk on?
Why does the moon
orbit the earth in a
specific pattern?
Laws of Physics
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Motion is not random: it is governed by the laws
of physics
Mechanical Engineers are often interested in the
movement of objects
Use laws of Physics to predict how objects and
systems move
Newton’s 2nd Law
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One of the most important
laws of physics
F=ma
The force on an object is
equal to its mass times its
acceleration (the rate of
change of its velocity)
Explains why it is harder to
push heavier objects
Newton’s 2nd Law and Gravity
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Gravity is a force that
makes all objects
accelerate towards the
center of the earth
(downwards to us) at a
constant rate
Acceleration is the rate of
change of speed
Use Newton’s 2nd Law to
find the force acting on
objects due to gravity
Demonstration
What will hit the ground first?
A Quarter or a basketball?
A hammer or a feather?
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2)
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Remember: Gravity accelerates (changes the
speed) objects at the same rate
Demonstration
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Feather and hammer did not hit the ground at
the same time. Why?
This is due to aerodynamic drag
Forces add in Newton’s 2nd Law
Drag force slows the acceleration of the
feather
Demonstration
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If there was no air, would the hammer and
feather hit the ground at the same time?
Don't believe me?
Conclusions
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Talked about what engineering is, and some of the
things engineers make
Skills of an engineer
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Knowledge of specific fields of science and math
 Allows the engineer to know what must be measured and
tested
 Gives insight to problem solve when designing and
analyzing systems
Mechanical Engineers
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Interested in predicting how things move
Use knowledge of physics to accomplish this
Today’s hands-on activities
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Newton’s 2nd law and the Law of Gravity
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Experiment competition
Prizes for the winning teams
How to measure a complex system
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Working in a real engineering laboratory
Learn about mass-spring-damper dynamics