What is
Mechanical Engineering?
Jeff Rhoads and Terry Ballinger
MST @ MSU
2006
Outline
• What is Engineering?
• Intro to Engineering Movie
• What is Mechanical Engineering?
• Sample ME Topics
• Alternative Energy Sources
• MEMS
• Lesson Overview
What is Engineering?
What is Engineering?

The application of science & mathematics to design,
build, and maintain devices and processes that are
useful to humankind.
What is Engineering?
Stuff
convert
Useful
Things
What is Engineering?
Stuff



convert
Matter
Sources of Energy
…
Useful
Things





Cars
Air Conditioners
Bridges
Clean Water
…
…useful to humankind
What is Engineering?
What is
Mechanical Engineering?
Non-Mechanical
Energy
convert
Mechanical
Energy
What is
Mechanical Engineering?
Non-Mechanical
Energy





Electrical
Chemical
Thermal
Nuclear
…
convert
Mechanical
Energy
What is
Mechanical Engineering?
Non-Mechanical
Energy





Electrical
Chemical
Thermal
Nuclear
…
convert
Mechanical
Energy


Potential
Kinetic
What is
Mechanical Engineering?
Non-Mechanical
Energy
Mechanical
Energy
convert
Conversion involves the design
and manufacture of:




Tools
Machines
Engines
…
Examples
Examples
Examples
What do ME’s Study?






Mechanics: machines, structures, …
Fluids: aerodynamics, pumps/fans, …
Thermal Sciences: heating/cooling, energy, …
Controls: interface electronics, …
Manufacturing: matl’s handling/processing, …
More…
Modern Mechanical Engineering
THE FUTURE:
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Alternative Energy - Motivation
In the United States…

2% of the Worlds Oil Reserves
Alternative Energy - Motivation
In the United States…


2% of the Worlds Oil Reserves
8% of World Oil Production
Alternative Energy - Motivation
In the United States…



2% of the Worlds Oil Reserves
8% of World Oil Production
5% of Worlds Population
Alternative Energy - Motivation
In the United States…




2% of the Worlds Oil Reserves
8% of World Oil Production
5% of Worlds Population
31% Total Oil Consumption
(2/3 imported)
Why Oil?
Historical sources of energy:
Wood  Coal  Oil/Gas  Nuclear
Why Oil?
Historical sources of energy:
Wood  Coal  Oil/Gas  Nuclear
One barrel
of oil
=
12 person-years
of manual labor
Global Oil Production & Demand
Energy Consumption
What Should We Do?





Increase nuclear energy output?
Increase alternative energy output
(solar, wind, wave, geothermal, …)
Reduce consumption?
All of the above?
OR: Go back to the caves? We can’t!
Alternative Energy Sources…







Nuclear
Hydroelectric
Geothermal
Wind
Biomass, Agricultural Sources, and Waste
Solar
Hydrogen from Renewables
Complications….
Environmental Impact
 Cost
 Safety
 Technology
 Will it make a dent?

So Why Try….

Application Specific Energy
Solar Panels
 Hydroelectric Power
 Hydrogen Powered Cars

Solar Power
Semiconductor
(Silicon)
Hydrogen from Renewables
DOE/EPA, 2005
Pushing the Envelope…
MEMS
Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems
Small devices that integrate electronics,
mechanics, and computing
 Existing products: sensors for
acceleration (air bags), pressure (tires),
temperature, ear implants, etc
 The future: biotech applications, sorting of
stem cells, biohazard sensors, etc

MEMS
Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems
Small devices that integrate electronics,
mechanics, and computing
 Existing products: sensors for
acceleration (air bags), pressure (tires),
temperature, ear implants, etc
 The future: biotech applications, sorting of
stem cells, biohazard sensors, etc

This is what I frequently work on!
How Small is Small?
How Small is Small?
200 People
How Small is Small?
650,000 Cans of Soda
How Small is Small?
30,000,000 #2 Pencils
How Small is Small?
>1x1015 MEMS Devices
(Quadrillions)
Tire Pressure Sensors
Cochlear Implants
Cochlear Implant
Micromachines
Micromachines
What Else Does the Future Hold?
Nanotechnology – very small machines
(one-billionth of a meter!)
 Biotech Advances
 ‘Space Age’ Materials
 More – just use your imagination!

MST@MSU ME
Lesson Overview
1. What is Mechanical Engineering?
2. Design: A Creative Problem-Solving Process (Straw Structure)
3. Dynamics: Gravity is Holding us Down! (Popsicle Stick Slingshot)
4. Why Things Float and Fly: Buoyancy and Aerodynamics (Airplanes)
5. Out of Control: The Need for Control System (Popsicle Stick Slingshot)
6. Manufacturing Madness (Assembly Line)
7. Energy and Work: Sources and Conversion (?)
8. Propulsion: How Fast Can You Go? (CO2 Propelled Boat)
9. Electromechanical Systems (Electric Motor)
10. Mechanical Vibrations: What’s Shaking?
Lesson 2 Activity
DESIGN
Straw Structure
Objective
Create a structure that will hold a
bottle of water as high as possible.
CONTROLS / DYNAMICS
Lesson 3-5 Activity
Popsicle Stick Slingshot
Objective
Create a ground level launching slingshot that will propel a
plastic ball as far as possible.
Objective
Calibrate the slingshot from Lesson 3 to accurately propel a
plastic ball to a target at an arbitrary distance.
BOUYANCY & AERODYNAMICS
Lesson 4 Activity
Airplanes!
Objective
Design a set of paper airplanes which will
fly the furthest/stay aloft the longest
Lesson 6 Activity
MANUFACTURING
Assembly Line
Objective
Create an assembly line that will produce eight beanfilled fish as quickly as possible.
Lesson 6 Activity
MANUFACTURING
Assembly Line
Objective
Create an assembly line that will produce eight beanfilled fish as quickly as possible.
Lesson 7 Activity
ENERGY & WORK
Energy and Work
Objective
TBD
Lesson 8 Activity
PROPULSION
CO2 Propelled Boat
Objective
Create a CO2 propelled boat that travels the greatest
distance in the minimum amount of time.
Lesson 8 Activity
PROPULSION
CO2 Propelled Boat
Objective
Create a CO2 propelled boat that travels the greatest
distance in the minimum amount of time.
Electromechanical Systems
Lesson 9 Activity
Electric Motor
QuickTime™ and a
Motion JPEG OpenDML decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Objective
Create a CO2 propelled boat that travels the greatest
distance in the minimum amount of time.