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Engineering Fundamentals - Loads, Forces & Materials - STEM at Work

A one-time introduction to engineering with real life examples, film footage and fundamentals that engineers use to express and calculate structural principals every day.
Mr. Pete
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(32)
Class
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What's included

1 live meeting
1 hrs 30 mins in-class hours
Grading
included

Class Experience

US Grade 8 - 11
This class will introduce engineering core principals and vocabulary that every engineer must understand in the development of skills for the built environment (bridges, buildings, roads, etc.). Forces and loadings will be applied to simple beams as typically prepared by engineers and architects. Students will see how these diagrams are developed using typical loads and forces that describe how most of the built environment is put together.
Load types will also be discussed. How they are determined as tools for use by engineers and how they are used to develop loading diagrams. "Dead Loads, Live loads, Deflection, Concentrated loads & Uniform Loads" will be described.

Additionally, some of the most common building materials will be covered based upon their individual characteristics, deflection and ability to withstand certain forces.
Finally, we will show students how to use these prescriptive concepts and principals in an example of calculating loads and forces from ancient times.

While this entire subject sounds highly technical, the tools that students should take home, while essential to engineers everywhere, can be applied to many different disciplines and situations in their lives. Discussion is open and questions, while absolutely encouraged, should be minimal once these concepts are understood or even partially understood.

This is a Powerpoint presentation with video shorts, including a well-documented engineering failure, that will show everyone the importance of good engineering practices and how they translate into modern society.

A knowledge of the metric system as well as knowing mass versus weight may prove helpful but is not necessary.
Simple mathematical equations will be shown. Essentials such as multiplication, numerator and denominator should be WELL understood.

Learning Goals

Students will be introduced to the main forces of compression, tension, shear and torsion. Also, how loads are applied to common situations and how these are all transposed to common engineering diagrams. Weights and testing of materials will be discussed along with brief demonstrations of how some materials are tested in labs.
Engineering the built environment may seem a highly technical subject. However, this introduction will demonstrate the simple tools engineers use everyday throughout the course of their profession.
learning goal

Other Details

Supply List
A one-page pdf file will be provided for download or print-out. It is a useful tool to follow the class and take notes.
 1 file available upon enrollment
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Please download or print out a copy of the single-page handout. It will help students keep track and provide a place for additional notes. Pen, pencil and paper are recommended to have available.
Joined July, 2022
5.0
32reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
As an architect with a degree in structural engineering, my primary college curriculum included years of courses in engineering as well as material sciences and individual courses in structural concrete, structural steel, structural wood and timber construction, statics and dynamics in addition to physics. I incorporate structural engineering practices regularly in my work as a multi-licensed architect.

Reviews

Live One-Time Class
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$25

per class

Meets once
90 min
Completed by 107 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
1-6 learners per class

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