Mechanical Monday!

Today was the first day of our second week of camp! We started our mechanical engineering unit today. Following our Do-Now about what motivates our stduents, we first discussed the different applications of mechanical engineering and how mechanical engineers can work an essentially any system that involves a moving part. We then had a lesson about vectors, which are quantities with magnitude and direction. We combined our knowledge of vectors and forces to learn how to draw free body diagrams, which engineers often use in real life. Following lunch, we had a brief lesson about electric motors, 4-stroke engines, and car parts. We then started construction on the motor cars. Using the free body diagram in the picture above, the teams were asked to design a car that would minimize the effects of forces that resist movement. Tomorrow we will finish and test the cars!