Engineering Your Future: Comprehensive Introduction to Engineering, 2009-2010 Edition

605 Pages·2009·14.15 MB·English

by  William C. Oakes, Les L. Leone, Craig J. Gunn

ENGINEERING YOUR FUTURE
A Comprehensive Introduction to Engineering
--------William C. Oakes, PhD
Purdue University
--------------Les L. Leone, PhD
Michigan State University
-------------Craig J. Gunn, MS
Michigan State University
Contributors
Frank M. Croft, Jr., PhD
Ohio State University
John B. Dilworth, PhD
Western Michigan University
Heidi A. Diefes, PhD
Purdue University
Ralph E. Flori, PhD
University of Missouri-Rolla
Marybeth Lima, PhD
Louisiana State University
Merle C. Potter, PhD
Michigan State University
Michael F. Young, MS
Michigan Technological University
Editor
John L. Gruender
Great Lakes Press, Inc.
St. Louis, MO
PO Box 520 / Chesterfield, MO 63006
[phone]
custser v @ glpbooks. com
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International Standard Book Number: 978-1-881018-95-7
Copyright © 2009 by Great Lakes Press, Inc.
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Table of Contents
Preface............................................................................................................................ix
The World of Engineering
1. The History of Engineering ......................................................................................1
1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................1
1.2 Getting Started ............................................................................................2
1.3 The Beginnings of Engineering ....................................................................5
1.4 An Overview of Ancient Engineering ............................................................7
1.5 Traveling Through the Ages ........................................................................11
1.6 A Case Study of Two Historic Engineers ....................................................15
1.7 The History of the Disciplines ....................................................................21
References............................................................................................................26
Exercises and Activities ........................................................................................27
2. Engineering Majors ................................................................................................29
2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................29
2.2 Engineering Functions................................................................................33
2.3 Engineering Majors ....................................................................................41
2.4 Emerging Fields ........................................................................................59
2.5 Closing Thoughts........................................................................................60
2.6 Engineering and Technical Organizations ..................................................61
References............................................................................................................68
Exercises and Activities ........................................................................................68
3. Profiles of Engineers ................................................................................................73
4. A Statistical Profile of the Engineering Profession ............................................105
4.1 Statistical Overview ..................................................................................105
4.2 College Enrollment Trends of Engineering Students ................................105
4.3 College Majors of Recent Engineering Students......................................107
4.4 Degrees in Engineering ............................................................................107
4.5 Job Placement Trends ..............................................................................109
4.6 Salaries of Engineers ..............................................................................109
4.7 The Diversity of the Profession ................................................................119
4.8 Distribution of Engineers by Field of Study ..............................................121
4.9 Engineering Employment by Type of Employer ........................................122
4.10 Percent of Students Unemployed or in Graduate School ........................122
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4.11 A Word from Employers ............................................................................123
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................123
5. Global and International Engineering ................................................................125
5.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................125
5.2 The Evolving Global Marketplace ............................................................126
5.3 International Opportunities for Engineers ................................................129
5.4 Preparing for a Global Career ..................................................................138
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................142
6. Future Challenges ..................................................................................................145
6.1 Expanding World Population ....................................................................145
6.2 Pollution ....................................................................................................147
6.3 Energy ......................................................................................................152
6.4 Transportation ..........................................................................................155
6.5 Infrastructure ............................................................................................156
6.6 Aerospace ................................................................................................157
6.7 Competitiveness and Productivity ............................................................159
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................160
Studying Engineering
7. Succeeding in the Classroom ................................................................................163
7.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................163
7.2 Attitude ....................................................................................................164
7.3 Goals . .....................................................................................................165
7.4 Keys to Effectiveness ..............................................................................167
7.5 Test-taking ................................................................................................172
7.6 Making the Most of Your Professors ........................................................174
7.7 Learning Styles ........................................................................................175
7.8 Well-Rounded Equals Effective ................................................................180
7.9 Your Effective Use of Time........................................................................183
7.10 Accountability ..........................................................................................188
7.11 Overcoming Challenges ..........................................................................189
References..........................................................................................................190
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................191
8. Problem Solving ....................................................................................................195
8.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................195
8.2 Analytic and Creative Problem Solving ....................................................195
8.3 Analytic Problem Solving ..........................................................................197
8.4 Creative Problem Solving ........................................................................204
8.5 Personal Problem Solving Styles..............................................................212
8.6 Brainstorming Strategies ..........................................................................216
8.7 Critical Thinking ........................................................................................221
References..........................................................................................................222
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................222
9. Visualization and Graphics ..................................................................................229
9.1 Why Study Visualization and Graphics? ..................................................229
9.2 The Theory of Projection ..........................................................................230
9.3 The Glass Box Theory................................................................................232
9.4 First and Third Angle Projections ............................................................234
9.5 The Meaning of Lines ..............................................................................236
9.6 Hidden Lines ............................................................................................238
Table of Contents v
9.7 Cylindrical Features and Radii..................................................................239
9.8 The Alphabet of Lines and Line Precedence ..........................................240
9.9 Freehand Sketching..................................................................................242
9.10 Pictorial Sketching ....................................................................................243
9.11 Visualization ............................................................................................251
9.12 Scales and Measuring................................................................................254
9.13 Coordinate Systems and Three Dimensional Space ................................259
9.10 Pictorial Sketching ....................................................................................243
Exercises ............................................................................................................264
10. Computer Tools for Engineers ............................................................................271
10.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................272
10.2 The Internet ..............................................................................................272
10.3 Word Processing Programs ......................................................................278
10.4 Spreadsheets ..........................................................................................279
10.5 Mathematics Software ..............................................................................282
10.6 Presentation Software ..............................................................................291
10.7 Operating Systems ..................................................................................291
10.8 Programming Languages ........................................................................292
10.9 Advanced Engineering Packages ............................................................293
References..........................................................................................................297
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................298
11. Teamwork Skills ..................................................................................................301
11.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................302
11.2 What Makes a Successful Team? ............................................................306
11.3 Growth Stages of a Team ........................................................................307
11.4 Team Leadership ......................................................................................309
11.5 How Effective Teams Work ......................................................................310
11.6 The Character of a Leader ......................................................................312
11.7 Team Grading ..........................................................................................314
References..........................................................................................................316
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................316
12. Project Management............................................................................................319
12.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................319
12.2 Creating a Project Charter........................................................................320
12.3 Task Definitions ........................................................................................321
12.4 Milestones ................................................................................................322
12.5 Defining Times ..........................................................................................322
12.6 Organizing the Tasks ................................................................................324
12.7 PERT Charts ............................................................................................324
12.8 Critical Paths ............................................................................................325
12.9 Gantt Charts ............................................................................................325
12.10 Details, Details..........................................................................................327
12.11 Personnel Distribution ..............................................................................327
12.12 Money and Resources..............................................................................327
12.13 Document As You Go ..............................................................................328
12.14 Team Roles ..............................................................................................328
References..........................................................................................................332
Exercises ............................................................................................................333
13. Engineering Design ..............................................................................................335
13.1 What Is Engineering Design ....................................................................335
13.2 The Design Process ................................................................................336
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13.3 A Case Study ..........................................................................................345
13.4 A Student Example of the 10-Stage Design Process ..............................356
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................361
14. Communication Skills..........................................................................................363
14.1 Why Do We Communicate? ....................................................................363
14.2 Oral Communication Skills ......................................................................364
14.3 Written Communication Skills ..................................................................370
14.4 Other Types of Communication ................................................................377
14.5 Relevant Readings ..................................................................................386
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................387
15. Ethics ....................................................................................................................389
15.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................389
15.2 The Nature of Ethics ................................................................................390
15.3 The Nature of Engineering Ethics ............................................................394
15.4 The Issues and Topics ..............................................................................397
15.5 Engineering Ethics and Legal Issues ......................................................409
Exercises ............................................................................................................411
The Fundamentals of Engineering
16. Units .....................................................................................................................415
16.1 History ......................................................................................................415
16.2 The SI System of Units ............................................................................416
16.3 Derived Units ............................................................................................418
16.4 Prefixes ....................................................................................................422
16.5 Numerals ..................................................................................................423
16.6 Conversions..............................................................................................424
References ..........................................................................................................427
Exercises ............................................................................................................427
17. Mathematics Review ............................................................................................431
17.1 Algebra ....................................................................................................431
17.2 Trigonometry ............................................................................................435
17.3 Geometry..................................................................................................438
17.4 Complex Numbers ....................................................................................442
17.5 Linear Algebra ..........................................................................................445
17.6 Calculus ....................................................................................................450
17.7 Probability and Statistics ..........................................................................456
Exercises ............................................................................................................460
18. Engineering Fundamentals ................................................................................465
18.1 Statics ......................................................................................................465
18.2 Dynamics ..................................................................................................472
18.3 Thermodynamics ......................................................................................481
18.4 Electrical Circuits ......................................................................................493
18.5 Economics ................................................................................................502
19. The Campus Experience......................................................................................515
19.1 Orienting Yourself to Your Campus ..............................................................515
19.2 Exploring ..................................................................................................515
19.3 Determining and Planning Your Major ......................................................516
19.4 Get into the Habit of Asking Questions ....................................................516
19.5 The ‘People Issue’ ....................................................................................517
Table of Contents vii
19.6 Searching for Campus Resources............................................................518
19.7 Other Important Issues ............................................................................519
19.8 Final Thoughts ..........................................................................................524
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................524
20. Financial Aid ........................................................................................................527
20.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................527
20.2 Parental Assistance ..................................................................................528
20.3 Is Financial Assistance For You? ..............................................................529
20.4 Scholarships ............................................................................................532
20.5 Loans ........................................................................................................541
20.6 Work-Study ..............................................................................................541
20.7 Scams ......................................................................................................546
20.8 The Road Ahead Awaits ..........................................................................547
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................547
21. Engineering Work Experience............................................................................549
21.1 A Job and Experience ..............................................................................549
21.2 Summer Jobs ..........................................................................................551
21.3 Volunteer ..................................................................................................551
21.4 Supervised Independent Study ................................................................552
21.5 Internships ................................................................................................552
21.6 Cooperative Education..............................................................................553
21.7 Which Is Best for You? ..............................................................................558
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................558
22. Connections: Liberal Arts and Engineering......................................................561
22.1 What Are “Connections”? ........................................................................561
22.2 Why Study Liberal Arts? ..........................................................................562
Exercises and Activities ......................................................................................566
Appendix A: The Basics of PowerPoint....................................................................567
Appendix B: An Introduction to MATLAB ............................................................571
Index............................................................................................................................591

Preface
You can’t make an educated decision about what career to pursue without adequate infor­
mation. Engineering Your Future endeavors to give you a broad introduction to the study and
practice of engineering. In addition to presenting vital information, we’ve tried to make it
interesting and easy to read as well.
You might find Chapter 3, Profiles of Engineers, to be of particular interest to you. The
chapter includes information from real people—engineers practicing in the field. They dis­
cuss their jobs, their lives, and the things they wish they had known going into the profes­
sion. Chapter 2, Engineering Majors, also should be a tremendous help to you in determin­
ing what areas of engineering sound most appealing to you as you begin your education.
The rest of the book presents such things as a historical perspective of engineering;
some thoughts about the future of the profession; some tips on how best to succeed in
the classroom; advice on how to gain actual, hands-on experience; exposure to computer-
aided design; and a nice introduction to several areas essential to the study and practice of
engineering.
We have designed this book for modular use in a freshman engineering course which
introduces students to the field of engineering. Such a course differs in content from univer­
sity to university. Consequently, we have included many topics, too numerous to cover in one
course. We anticipate that several of the topics will be selected for a particular course with
the remaining topics available to you for outside reading and for future reference.
As you contemplate engineering, you should consider the dramatic impact engineers
have had on our world. Note the eloquent words of American Association of Engineering
Societies Chair Martha Sloan, a professor of electrical engineering at Michigan Technologi­
cal University:
“In an age when technology helps turn fantasy and fiction into reality engineers
have played a pivotal role in developing the technologies that maintain our na­
tion’s economic, environmental and national security They revolutionized med­
icine with pacemakers and MRI scanners. They changed the world with the de­
velopment of television and the transistor, computers and the Internet. They
introduced new concepts in transportation, power, satellite communications,
earthquake-resistant buildings, and strain-resistant crops by applying scientific
discoveries to human needs.
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