ME495 Philosophy

• First a commercial message: Starting this moment, take notes, because some group will be summarizing at beginning of next lecture.

• Important ppt slides (with ME 495 logo on bottom) are posted on web. Check a few hours before lecture to get latest copy.

• Come to class on time

YOUNG·MAN·IF·THEORY AND·PRACTICE·DIFFERUSE·YOUR·HORSE·SENSE

Joseph·Baker·DavisUM Student 1864-Assoc Dean 1910

ME495 Corollary

"Engineering is the art of modeling materials we do not wholly understand, into shapes we cannot precisely analyze so as to withstand forces we cannot properly assess, in such a way that the public has no reason to suspect the extent of our ignorance."  

Attributed to Dr. A. R. Dykes, British Institution of Engineers.

Goals and links

• Develop horse sense • Practice ‘back of envelope’ calculation• Develop test procedures• Learn DOE • Deal with error!• Integrate

– tech comm– engineering science as much as possible– economics

• Think outside the box…

Error

• Bad: F=1213.677

• OK: F=1213.677 lb

• Better F=1213.677 + 219.455 lb

• Best F=1200 + 200 lb

Complaints from students

  No wishy-washy answersProblems are too open-endedFaster evening email response timeLectures don’t tell us anythingThere is too much to absorb in lecturesI left Schultz’s office hours with more questions than answersBut Prof. DiGiovanni said….Differences in TC of 395/495Quizzes and Reviews were meaninglessIf the equations we learned in the first three years do not work, do not use them.

Complaints from TA/Prof

Students come to lab unprepared

Tardiness and poor attendance

Students come into my office and ask, “What exactly do you want us to do with…”

The students are in minimalist mode

Students do not check the ‘reasonableness’ of their answers.

Past labs…

3 Labs this spring

  Mufflers Injection molding | Cooling 1070 AL 1000GGB | 2052 AL

switch groups

Where do I go?

Engineering Trivial Pursuit Rules

No reference booksNo calculatorsNo slide rulesNo multiple-choice questionsNo lifelinesNo extended precision answers

Our goal today… The big and the small

• How much does this structure weigh?

• How much area does a bit require on a CD?

• You have 10 minutes!