Higher Engineering Science

Aims of the course

Engineering shapes the world in which we live and its future. Engineers play key roles in meeting the needs of society in fields that include climate change, medicine, IT and transport.

The course provides a broad and challenging exploration of engineering, enabling candidates to:

extend and apply knowledge and understanding of key engineering concepts, principles and practice
understand the relationships between engineering, mathematics and science
apply analysis, design, construction and evaluation to a range of engineering problems with some complex features
communicate engineering concepts clearly and concisely, using appropriate terminology
develop a greater understanding of the role and impact of engineering in changing and influencing our environment and society

Topics

Electronics and Control

Develop a deep understanding of electronic control systems.

Mechanisms and Structures

Develop a deep understanding of mechanisms and structures.

Engineering Contexts and Challenges

Develop a deep understanding of the broad discipline of engineering, and its role and impact on our society and environment.

Assessment

This course will be assessed through a combination of an assignment and a question paper. The question paper introduces breadth to the assessment. It requires depth of understanding and application of knowledge from the Units.

Both assignment and exam are externally marked by SQA and Graded A to D.

To achieve an award in the Engineering science Course, learners must pass all of the required Units.

Analogue electronics

· variable resistors, light and temperature sensors in voltage dividers· using input transducer characteristics, relevant to the above bullet, to design voltage dividers to meet a specification· function and purpose of BJTs· designing a BJT circuit as a current amplifier· calculating the current gain (hFE) of an npn transistor· function and purpose of MOSFETs· designing a MOSFET (n-channel enhancement mode) circuit as a voltage-operated switch· comparing BJT and MOSFET transistors in a given application  function of op-amp configurations:— inverting— non-inverting— comparator— difference amplifier— summing amplifier— voltage followers· calculating relationship between input and output voltages for different op-amp configurations

Structures, Forces and Materials

· Structures and Forces:o equilibrium of concurrent and non-concurrent forces in 2Do resolving triangle/polygon of forces, resultant/equilibranto calculating reaction forces in simply-supported beams or structures:— where loads are not exclusively horizontal or vertical— with hinge and roller supports— with uniformly distributed loads (partial or full length)o using nodal analysis to calculate the size and nature of forces in frameso diagrams of structures· Materials:o stress/strain (load/extension) graphso properties of materials:— brittleness— elasticity— ductility— plasticity— strength— malleabilityo using strain gaugeso calculating Young’s Modulus of elasticityo calculating factor of safetyo calculating elastic strain energy: Es = ½ Fx

Digital electronics, control and programming

· Digital electronic control:o logic functions: AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, EOR and combinations with up to four inputso conversion to NAND equivalento developing Boolean expressions from truth tables, logic diagrams or circuit specificationso constructing truth tables and logic diagrams from written specifications· The systems approach:o complex system, sub-system and control diagramso role of negative feedback in a systemo closed-loop, two-state and proportional feedbacko using error detection in a closed-loop system· Programmable control:o controlling a motor using pulse-width modulationo control routines with up to four inputs and four outputs, processing analogue inputso using infinite and finite loops and time delayso using logic and arithmetic operations to make decisionso using high-level programs to monitor inputs and initiate digital outputso using high-level programs to make decisions using arithmetic and logic functions

Engineering contexts and challenges, and Energy

· Engineering contexts and challenges:o role of the professional engineer within a project, including communication and team workingo skills and specialist knowledge required within projectso examples of social and economic impacts (positive and negative) of engineeringo examples of environmental impacts (positive and negative) of engineeringo sustainability of engineering solutionso emerging technologies and their impact· Energy:o calculations related to energy audits:— inputs— outputs— energy losses— efficiencyo applied calculations involving efficiency, work done and power, using formula o manipulating and combining given formulae to obtain answerso solving structural problems using trigonometric functions and substitution in simultaneous equations

Drive Systems and Pneumatics

· Drive systems:o diagrams of drive systemso selecting and calculating appropriate drive systems:— simple and compound gear trains— belt drives and chain drives— rack and pinion— worm and wheel— worm and nuto purpose of couplings (rigid and flexible), radial and thrust bearings (plain, ball, roller, journal)o purpose of friction in brakes and clutches  calculating torque: T = Fro calculating power in a drive system: P = 2 π nT· Pneumatics:o sequential control circuits, with up to three cylinderso electro-pneumatic control circuits

Homework

Pupils will be given homework at regular intervals. This homework will be related to the topic of work that they are undertaking at the time and will also act as useful revision for the final exam.

Revision Textbook

BrightRedStudy Guide - Higher Engineering Science

Useful Web Links

TechnologyStudent.com - www.technologystudent.com

Yenka free software - www.yenka.com

Picaxe editor software - www.picaxe.com

Tinkercad circuit and simulation - www.tinkercad.com

logic lab Pneumatic sim software - www.logiclab.hu

Progression from this course - where next?

•Other technological subjects at Higher

•Employment, apprenticeships and/or training in graphic communication related fields

•University/college course

Career Pathways

Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Product Design Engineering. Architecture, Built Environment and Construction.

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