Partners for Pre-Engineering Excellence in Texas
Syllabus: EGR 1301introduction to engineering
Prof. Brian Thomas
Office: ECS 305G
Email: Brian_Thomas@Baylor.edu
Office phone: (254) 710-4190
PURPOSE OF EGR 1301
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the engineering profession. The
course seeks to answer the questions common to new engineering students: What is
engineering? What do engineers do in their profession? What are the different types of
engineering? What is the difference between science and engineering?
In order to best answer these questions, the student will be immersed into engineering
through a multitude of lectures, hands-on laboratories, homework and reading
assignments. Furthermore, the important concept of engineering design will be
introduced through a semester long, iterative project involving group brainstorming, hand
calculations and computer analysis, and finally fabrication and laboratory testing.
To achieve this purpose, students will study:
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Simple mechanics to analyze truss structures and predict failure loads and
locations,
Simple fluid mechanics to determine drag coefficients and apply these to
engineering problems such as drag on automobiles or submarines,
Respect-for-persons ethics, utilitarian ethics, and Christian ethics, applying all
three to moral dilemmas in the practice of engineering,
The Binary number system, gates, and combinational logic,
The basics of electrical circuits such as voltage, current, power, and charge,
The analysis and use of energy in the accomplishment of work in various
engineering applications including a tour of the Baylor University Power Plant,
Methods of energy production, storage, and transfer,
The concepts of electrical and mechanical resonance.
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
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Clearly explain what engineers do and how it differs from what scientists do,
Describe the three engineering majors at Baylor; namely, mechanical, electrical &
computer, and engineering,
Understand the concept of vocation,
Clearly picture the engineering profession in order to make an informed
vocational decision,
Understand time management principles and study strategies and develop these
principles into personal habits that will help to succeed in college and life
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Understand and apply principles of teaming and team-based creative engineering
problem solving,
Understand and apply the engineering design process.
SOME DETAILS
2005-2006 Catalog Description: Introduction to the engineering profession. Topics
include engineering disciplines, ethics, the impact of technology on the world, analysis
and design using a team design project, and computer aided design and problem solving.
Text: Holtzapple and Reece, Foundations of Engineering, 2nd edition, McGraw Hill
Chapters covered in part or in total: 1-3, 5-9, 11, 13-16, 22
Grade Calculation: Your final average will be calculated using the weights below.
However, the instructors reserve the right to assign letter grades at their discretion.
Weekly homework assignments (by teams)
10%
Weekly reading quizzes, dropping the lowest (individual)
10%
Laboratory exercises (by teams)
10%
Design projects (by teams)
10%
Four major exams (individual)
40%
Final exam (individual)
20%
Weekly assessment from Success4Student (individual)
Bonus
3%
Total 103%
NOTE: Mastery of the subject must be displayed on the comprehensive final exam.
Failure of the final exam will result in failure of the course. Furthermore, an
exceptionally good or poor performance on the final exam may result in a higher or lower
course grade, respectively, than that called for by the grading guidelines.
Plagiarism Policy:
Students agree that by taking this course, all required papers, exams, class projects or
other assignments submitted for credit may be submitted to turnitin.com or similar third
parties to review and evaluate for originality and intellectual integrity. A description of
the services, terms and conditions of use, and privacy policy of turnitin.com is available
on its web site: http://www.turnitin.com. Students understand all work submitted to
turnitin.com will be added to its database of papers.
Attendance policy:
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>6 classes absences for any reason except documented medical reasons* mandates
course failure
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>2 laboratory absences for any reason other than documented medical* mandates
course failure
3 late arrivals = 1 absence (0-10 minutes = late, but >10 minutes = absence)
No late work will be accepted except for documented medical absences* or other
true emergencies.
No make ups for major examinations will be given. With a documented medical
excuse or prior approval by the instructor, you may count your final exam as a
substitute for any missed exam.
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Absences for family emergencies such as funerals may also be excused with appropriate documentation
such as a program from the funeral. Medical excuses may be obtained from the Baylor Health Center
within the Student Life Center or from personal physicians.
Late Work Policy: Late work will be accepted for 24 hours after the due date and time.
Late laboratory reports will be scored by the same guidelines as those turned in on time,
but the score for the late report will be multiplied by 0.75.
Team Assignments and Seating Assignments: You will be assigned to work in teams of
3-4 for design project, lab, and homework assignments. One assignment or project will be
submitted per team. However, you should work individually on homework assignments
first and then get together to collaborate on one final solution to be submitted. You will
also sit together with your team in class to facilitate in-class learning exercises. Each
student will evaluate the performance of their team members at the end of the semester.
Required Equipment for Every Class and Laboratory: Pencil, eraser, straight edge,
calculator, engineering paper, textbook, stapler. If you are purchasing a calculator, the TI89 is strongly recommended. It is the only calculator required for any classes at Baylor
University. If you already have another calculator, it is not necessary to purchase a TI-89
for EGR 1301.
LECTURE DESCRIPTIONS
Lecture 1
Introduction
Lecture 2
Introduction to Engineering at Baylor University
Lecture 3
The Engineering Method
Lecture 4
Introduction to Statics
Lecture 5
Introduction to Statics (continued)
Lecture 6
Introduction to Statics (continued)
Lecture 7
Team Building
Lecture 8
Creative Problem Solving
Lecture 9
Materials Selection in Engineering
Lecture 10
Manufacturing Processes in Engineering
Lecture 11
Introduction to Fluid Mechanics
Lecture 12
Introduction to Fluid Mechanics (continued)
Lecture 13
Engineering Notation and Graphs
Lecture 14
Unit Conversion
Lecture 15
Engineering Ethics
Lecture 16
Engineering Ethics (continued)
Lecture 17
Engineering Ethics (continued; incident at Morales)
Lecture 18
Introduction to Engineering Statistics
Lecture 19
Engineering Design Example: The Boeing 777
Lecture 20
Introduction to Electrical Engineering: Charge, Voltage, and Current
Lecture 21
Introduction to Electrical Engineering: Ohm's Law and Power
Lecture 22
Introduction to Electrical Engineering: Circuits
Lecture 23
Introduction to Electrical Engineering: Capacitors and Inductors
Lecture 24
Introduction to Electrical Engineering: Resonance and Radiation
Lecture 25
Introduction to Electrical Engineering: Power Generation
Lecture 26
Introduction to Electrical Engineering: Gates and Logic Circuits
Lecture 27
Introduction to Electrical Engineering: Analog vs. Digital Signals
Lectures 28-34 Energy and Work (seven lectures)
Lecture 35
What Engineers Do: Alternative Energy Sources
Lecture 36
Failure Analysis
Lecture 37
What Engineers Do: Failure Analysis (Prof. Fry)
Lecture 38
What Engineers Do: Appropriate Technology
Lecture 39
Is There Scientific Evidence For A Designed Universe?
READING ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS
RA 1
Chapter 1, The Engineer
RA 2
The Method, by Billy Vaughn Koen
RA 3
Chapter 15, Statics
RA 4
Chapter 3, Problem Solving
RA 5
Chapter 12, Fluid Mechanics
RA 6
Chapters 7, 8, and 14, Significant Figures, Engineering Notation, Units
RA 7
Chapter 2, Ethics
RA 8
Chapter 9, Engineering Statistics
RA 9
Chapter 16, Electrical Engineering
RA 10 Chapter 11, Thermodynamics
RA 11 Chapter 22, Energy and Work
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS
HW 1
Statics, Part 1
HW 2
Statics, Part 2
HW 3
Materials Selection
HW 4
Significant Figures, Engineering Notation, Units Conversion
HW 5
Fluid Mechanics
HW 6
Ethics
HW 7
Statistics
HW 8
Circuits, Part 1
HW 9
Circuits, Part 2
HW 10 Work and Energy, Part 1
HW 11 Work and Energy, Part 2
HW 12 Work and Energy, Part 3
LAB DESCRIPTIONS
Lab 1
Success 4 Students
Lab 2
Reverse Engineering
Lab 3
Wire Frame Truss Analysis
Lab 4
Testing of Faculty Prototype Bridge
Lab 5
Materials Testing of Wood and Glue
Lab 6
Introduction to ModelSmart
Lab 7
Measuring Drag Using a Wind Tunnel
Lab 8
Numerical Analysis (of Drag Coefficient)
Lab 9
Testing of Student Prototype Bridge
Lab 10 Solid State Sensors
Lab 11 Flashlight Circuits and Exponential Decay
Lab 12 Circuit Board Manufacturing
Lab 13 Digital Circuits
Lab 14 Power Plant Tour
Lab 15 Testing of Final Bridge Designs