every project wraps up with a section called the Iron Triangle of Engineering. This section helps you think about what real engineers consider when doing that type of project.
ABOUT YOU
Every junior engineer has to start somewhere. When I wrote this book, I assumed that you can
Type on a computer and use a mouse. Your experience can be on a Windows or a Mac system. The simulations you use in this book are computer based (not apps on a mobile device).
Read and follow directions. Each project consists of a sequence of steps to follow. Try to complete the steps mostly as written to get the best results. However, you can make some changes to the steps to match new designs you create.
Do a little math and measurement. Engineers must measure things such as length and mass. In this book, I use the metric system for measurements. Engineers also do computations such as dividing to find a ratio. If you want, you can use a calculator to help you compute. I don’t use any formulas, but as you gain new skills you should be ready to use these, too!
Follow safety rules and ask an adult for help when you need it. Engineering is all about safety – putting on your safety gear, looking out for danger, asking for help, and using equipment responsibly. Your development as a junior engineer starts with safe behavior.
Courtesy of bilhagolan/Getty
Bounce back from failure. Failure is a word many grown-ups don’t like to say to kids, but it is an important part of engineering. When you design and test ideas, some will succeed and others will fail. Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb, said this about failure: “I have not failed 700 times. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
ABOUT THE ICONS
As you read through the projects in this book, you’ll see two icons. The icons point out different things:
This icon marks potential problems or dangers.
This icon marks helpful information or guidance.
THE FIRST STEP
Whether you view yourself as a future engineer or you just love to tinker and learn new things, your exploration of the projects in this book is a great first step towards fun and rewarding work. Good luck as you enter the world of engineering!
PROJECT 1
ENGINEERING 101
WELCOME TO ENGINEERING! You are beginning an adventure that explores the fun and rewarding field of engineering. Because engineering is not a class most kids see on their school schedules, we’ll start with a crash course in Engineering 101.
WHAT IS ENGINEERING?
Engineering is work that uses science, math, and technology to create products and processes. The mission of engineering work is to help humanity and our world. Many times, the goal is to solve an urgent problem, such as building a bridge or setting up a communications network after a disaster. Sometimes, the goal of engineering is to help other living creatures, such as developing prosthetic (artificial) legs for a dog born with missing or malformed limbs. Other times, the goal of engineering is to make a process work better and faster, such as scheduling the gates that airplanes use in an airport.
Courtesy of 3D Systems
WHERE DO ENGINEERS WORK?
Engineers work in all types of settings, all over the world. Sometimes engineers work inside, using a computer to design a product. Sometimes they work outside, using special construction equipment to build a structure. Sometimes they work alone, but most of the time engineers work in teams.
Engineers share information with each other when the knowledge and experience of one group can help another group. This was the case when NASA engineers helped the government of Chile rescue 33 miners who were trapped underground. NASA’s experience working in hard-to-reach places and in creating rescue capsules contributed to the success in saving the miners.
Courtesy of Hugo Infante/Government of Chile
WHAT ARE SOME ENGINEERING FIELDS?
Many types of engineering exist, and each field offers exciting challenges to solve. Here are a few engineering fields and the products or processes with which they work:
Aerospace: Build airplanes and spacecraft
Architectural: Construct buildings, skyscrapers, and landmarks
Biomedical: Build devices that function with living bodies
Chemical/materials: Create new products such as medicines, plastics, and fuels
Civil/structural: Build dams, roads, and bridges
Computer: Make computers and smart devices
Electrical: Build electronic equipment; generate and distribute electricity to homes and factories
Environmental: Focus on pollution control and recycling
Entertainment: Build amusement parks and movie sets
Industrial: Find ways to speed up and improve production lines
Marine/ocean: Design systems to operate in coastal or ocean waters
Mechanical: Design and build machines, including robots
Mining/geological: Focus on mining and earthquakes
Nuclear: Build systems that use the energy of atomic radiation
Petroleum: Find, get, and use oil and natural gas for energy
The Grand Challenges of Engineering are some of the most important work engineers will need to do to help humanity. Learn about them at www.engineeringchallenges.org.
WHAT IS THE ENGINEERING DESIGN CYCLE?
The Engineering Design Cycle, or simply, the Engineering Cycle, is a set of steps an engineer follows to go from an idea or a need to a manufactured product or a process.
