you’re reading this as an ebook, you can click web addresses, such as www.dummies.com, to visit that website.
Every project follows the Engineering Design Cycle, or Engineering Cycle. This process is different from the Scientific Method, which you probably learned in school. I explain the Engineering Cycle in Project 1.
My design sketches are meant to spark your imagination. Your engineering designs may look very much the same or very different from my designs. Your ideas are valuable and I want you to have faith in them. Brainstorm, invent, and build!
Finally, every project wraps up with a section called the Iron Triangle of Engineering. This section helps you think about what real engineers consider when doing that type of project.
ABOUT YOU
Every junior engineer has to start somewhere. When I wrote this book, I assumed that you can
Courtesy of bilhagolan/Getty
ABOUT THE ICONS
As you read through the projects in this book, you’ll see two icons. The icons point out different things:
THE FIRST STEP
Whether you view yourself as a future engineer or you just love to tinker and learn new things, your exploration of the projects in this book is a great first step towards fun and rewarding work. Good luck as you enter the world of engineering!
PROJECT 1
ENGINEERING 101
WELCOME TO ENGINEERING! You are beginning an adventure that explores the fun and rewarding field of engineering. Because engineering is not a class most kids see on their school schedules, we’ll start with a crash course in Engineering 101.
WHAT IS ENGINEERING?
Engineering is work that uses science, math, and technology to create products and processes. The mission of engineering work is to help humanity and our world. Many times, the goal is to solve an urgent problem, such as building a bridge or setting up a communications network after a disaster. Sometimes, the goal of engineering is to help other living creatures, such as developing prosthetic (artificial) legs for a dog born with missing or malformed limbs. Other times, the goal of engineering is to make a process work better and faster, such as scheduling the gates that airplanes use in an airport.
Courtesy of 3D Systems
WHERE DO ENGINEERS WORK?
Engineers work in all types of settings, all over the world. Sometimes engineers work inside, using a computer to design a product. Sometimes they work outside, using special construction equipment to build a structure. Sometimes they work alone, but most of the time engineers work in teams.
Engineers share information with each other when the knowledge and experience of one group can help another group. This was the case when NASA engineers helped the government of Chile rescue 33 miners who were trapped underground. NASA’s experience working in hard-to-reach places and in creating rescue capsules contributed to the success in saving the miners.
Courtesy of Hugo Infante/Government of Chile
WHAT ARE SOME ENGINEERING FIELDS?
Many types of engineering exist, and each field offers exciting challenges to solve. Here are a few engineering fields and the products or processes with which they work:
