building bridges: making the connection between physics and engineering

Building Bridges: Making the connection between

Physics and Engineering. 

John Atherton

Toronto District School Board

Who’s talking?

• Mechanical Engineering Degree

• Commissioning Engineer, Large Steam Turbines

• Design and build drinking water systems

• Corporate Underwriter, Boiler and Machinery Insurance

• Able to change a fuse/reset breakers

What’s the connection? 

• Engineering is the application of science

• Thinking creatively: from concept to form

• Working in a team

• Communication; team, calculation, report writing, audience

• Design, Build, Test and start again!

Curriculum Links

• Lots!

• See file

Today

1. Calculating and designing in groups with whiteboards.

2. Labs - Comparing recipe/confirmation labs and investigating ‘real’ situations

3. Design and Build

4. Trips - taking it outside

Application based tasks

Internal Memo

Date: Thursday April 12th, 2007 To; , Forensic Science, Automotive,

Toronto Police Service From: Jake “Chalkdust” Atherton, Detective, Road Safety

Tottenham Division, OPP

Re: Automotive crash on Monday 9th April, 2007 on 7th Line and Concession Road No. 6 just North of Highway 9 at or about 1.15pm.

Please analyse the diagram below and report to me by next Friday (court is set for the afternoon) giving your opinion of the speeds of the vehicles at the moment of impact. This intersection is a 4 - way stop and I would appreciate if you could give an opinion whether or not one or both of the vehicles stopped at the stop signs prior to proceeding through the junction. As there were no other witnesses to the accident other than the two drivers, I hope that you are able to provide an independent opinion, especially in view of the drivers’ conflicting reports. Hope this finds you well and not too busy with work. We are having terrible weather all this week with showers everyday. Let’s hope the summer comes soon. Thank you for you assistance in this matter Yours Truly Det. J Atherton

Sam’s Ice cream shop – closed for the season

Vehicles found fused together here in Sam’s empty car park

Point of impact (from debris on road)

Diagram of Accident Scene

Width of both roads = 6 m

Mass of car A = 1100 kg

Distance =

Angle =

Mass of Truck B= 2200 kg

VA =?

VB =?

Today1. Calculating for design - cooperative group problem

solving– Car Crash Investigation

– Riding the Wall of Death

– Bungee Jump

– The James Webb Telescope

– Space Station - Mars

2. Labs 2 ways – pendulum and spring mass

3. Design, build and test– Trebuchet/Wind turbine/ Bridge building

4. Trips – Wonderland and Flying

Car Crash Investigation

Car Crash Investigation

Sam’s Ice cream shop – closed for the season

Vehicles found fused together here in Sam’s empty car park

Point of impact (from debris on road)

Diagram of Accident Scene

Width of both roads = 16 m

Mass of car A = 1000 kg

Distance =

Angle =

Mass of Truck B= 2200 kg

VA =?

VB =?

Car Crash Calculator

Wall of Death

Wall of Death

Wall of Death

Wall of Death Assignment

Wall of Death calculator

Bungee Jump

Bungee Jump

Bungee Jump calculator

James Webb NGST

In orbit around the Sun not the Earth

James Webb Space Telelscope (NGST)

James Webb NGST

Space Station Design

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

• 23:30

• 25:42

• 27:40

• 52:30

• 53:50

Chose a task and work in a group using the whiteboards

• Car Crash Investigation

• Riding the Wall of Death

• Bungee Jump

• The James Webb Telescope

• Space Station - Mars

Another way to do labs

• Pendulum

• Spring mass

Recipe/Confirmation labs

OR

Real Investigations

Pendulum - Two ways

Pendulum Lab- another way

Design and Build

• Trebuchet

• Wind turbine

• Bridge Building

Other interesting projects for Physics

Brake pads Tango dancing shoes Basketball Space travel Sub space parachute jump