Welcome to Physics 256 for the Fall of 2022!
Course: Green Engineering Design Offered: MTThF 2:45 - 4:00 Professor: Peter Sheldon Martin 316 x8488 (Office), 238-5681 (cell) Text: --Engineering: A Very Short Introduction (2012) Author: Blockley, David
--The Story of More (2020) Author: Hope Jahren
--Design of Everyday Things (2013) Author: Norman, Don
The books are in the College e-bookshop. They can be bought at Amazon.com (click to take you to the three books on Amazon) or a used book site for a bit less.
--Additional readings will be handed out (no cost)Additional Needs: You need access to:
--Autodesk Sketchbook
--Autodesk Inventor
--Makerbot Print
You may install these educational versions free on your own computer, which is going to be the easiest thing for most. If you cannot do that, you have access to the software by remotely accessing a College lab computer - they are installed on certain lab computers for you. While we are online, you may remotely access lab computers from your own device; if you do not know how to do this, please ask the Help Desk or ask me.
Course Comments: The topic of this course is Green Engineering Design: In general, this course is an introduction to engineering, and an introduction to engineering design principles. Along the way, we will discuss power generation and use, and how it is made green. We will start with power plants, and discuss buildings and transportation. We will explore political, economic, and engineering issues that pertain to making these power uses more or less "green". This is an experiential learning course, which means that students are going to be learning by doing. While we will spend a fair amount of time reading and discussing, we will also spend time exploring and doing. We may take (virtual) field trips to learn about these things first hand, and we will complete multiple group projects related to our learning goals. The readings are different than your usual physics and engineering texts, as they are more about the stories or information that allow us to understand the need (or not) for a greener future, what stands in the way, and what engineering innovation is about. This class is somewhat driven by student participation in the projects and in class.
Objectives: Students will
- understand what engineering is and has been
- understand general engineering design processes and considerations
- learn about working in teams and how that is essential to best results
- understand the concept and application of energy conservation in the sciences
- be able to describe technically how power is generated with conventional and alternative sources of energy, from large-scale power plants to small-scale homes and cars
- be able to discuss a number of the issues (economic, political, technical) that impact the use of various energy sources
- design and build a Pinewood Derby, describing the physics/engineering aspects that most likely affect the car's speed (this will have to be modified for online)
- use a wind tunnel to test the efficiency of a car's shape or a turbine (we will modify this or do it virtually)
- use 3D design software and a 3D printer for design and build projects
- design and build a scale solar car for competition (this will have to be modified for online)
- learn how engineering innovation comes about through creativity and risk from case studies that may include the Edison2
- undersatnd basic ways transportation and buildings can be engineered to be more energy efficient
- understand the assumptions, influencing conditions, and limits of empirical knowledge.
- engage in problem-solving, and will apply physics to solve practical problems.
- understand the contributions of physics and engineering to society, including its social, cultural, and economic significance.
- understand the relationship of physics and other sciences to mathematics, the design process, and technology
- conduct systematic field investigations using the school grounds, the community, and regional resources
- will conduct research projects and experiments including applications of the design process and technology
