What is engineering?

Engineering is the design of solutions to a human need, typically based on a (mathematical ) model of materials or systems. Such a design is good enough for the required task. It does the job, with an adequate margin of safety, but is not wasteful. Typically an initial design can be improved through testing, analysis, and redesign.

Engineers design things based on their expert knowledge of the properties of the materials they are working with, or established design solutions or practices.

Designs often need multiple iterations of analysis, redesign, and testing.

The success of a project can be measured by the diversity of solutions that are offered.

Example 1: Pizza Engineering: How many pizzas do you order if 10 friends are coming for a pizza party

Engineering Model: Average person eats 2 slices, but some might eat more.

Calculation: If 8 slices per pizza, you might order 3 pizzas( safety factor of 2 slices) or 4 pizzas ( safety factor of 10 slices). The most efficient design is the least expensive one that meets the performance criteria. Engineering designs almost always involve trade-offs- speed vs force, cost vs performance.

Example 2: How tall a tower can you build with a cubic foot of beach sand? With a pound of plasticine?

Answer: It depends on the water content of the sand or the temperature of the plasticine.

Example 3: Design a system that will keep the Acera building at a constant

temperature +/- 3 degrees all year round

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