Interactive & Structural Engineering - W1

This week we discovered many different types of engineering. This week we did projects that allowed us to be aerospace engineers, mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, civil engineers, material science engineers, and bioengineers.

We created a rollercoaster on the computer to understand the relationship between force, gravity, friction, and speed. We learned about kinetic and potential engergy and how it relates to a roller coaster.

We assembled a hovercraft, and discussed what makes objects fly. We talked about propulsion and air pressure. We then raced our hovercrafts to see who could go the farthest!

We crafted a solar oven out of a pizza box and was able to bake cookies on a sunny day! We learned about solar panels and how they produce engery. We also looked at pictures of solar houses from the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall.
We played a computer game to understand magnetics and radio waves in an MRI. We also played a computer game to understand diabetes, insulin, and glucose. We discussed how your body produces energy. The last computer game we played was about lasers. We discovered that laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Also, we learned that lasers are made up of electromagnetic wave.

Our most popular project yet is creating non-Newtonian fluid, made up of corn starch and water. We discussed viscosity and the internal friction between gases and liquids. We got to step and run on the non-Newtonian fluid in order to feel the fluid's reaction from the force we were creating

Come up for the engineers....

We will create a water flitration system. We will be discussing the difference between tap water and bottled water. We will also research the up-and-coming innovative ideas for producing clean water for developing countries.

We will craft a wind trubine, and talk about wind energy. We also will make a model of our wind turbine on the computer.

We will make lip balm in order to understand the incredients and chemical reactions that occur in it.

Our last day we will be playing Who Wants to be a Millionaire? to review all we learned!