Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

Engineering curiosities, STEAM

eng

videorecording

Ages 10+

Grades 5+

Engineering curiosities

1032690642

97

STEAM

Chemistry: metallurgy: Metallurgy is the study of the extraction, refining, alloying and fabrication of metals and of their structure and properties. Metallurgy can be described as a sub-set of "materials science" -- the study of physical and chemical behavior of metals and alloys. This program discusses metal's role in our control of the environment. Advances in agriculture, warfare, transport, even cookery are impossible without metal, as was the entire Industrial Revolution--from steam to electricityEngineering: the future of graphene: Over the last hundred years the world has witnessed amazing advances in the fields of technology, energy, sports and medicine. However, few discoveries have shown the versatility or potential as graphene. Graphene is a tightly packed layer of carbon atoms that are bonded together in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice and are the basic structural element of other allotropes, including graphite, charcoal, and carbon nanotubes. In this program we will learn how a thin layer of pure carbon just one atom thick can be 100 times stronger than steel by weight and has the potential to revolutionize electronicsEngineering: fueling a greener planet: Revolutionary changes are taking place in the automobile industry. The standard petroleum gasoline fueled engine has some new competition from gas-electric hybrids, electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, natural gas vehicles and even some automobiles that get some of their power from the SunAeronautics: the science of flight: Strength and stability are important factors in airplane or space vehicle design. Engineers create vehicles that are strong enough to fly effectively and efficiently by using specific materials and structures that are lightweight and durable. Important decisions are made regarding the materials that are used to make the fuselage, wings, tail, and engine. Many airplane materials are now made of composite materials that are lightweight, yet stronger than most metals. This issue shows how aircraft manufacturers are utilizing materials such as carbon fiber along with aluminum and titanium to engineer aircraft. The boom in aeronautics and commercial aviation came when thousands of pilots were released from military service after World War II and the potential for using aircraft as an affordable and convenient method of transportation led to the creation of airline companies eager to capitalize on this emerging and untapped market. The Boeing 707 was introduced in 1958 as the first widely used passenger jet and laid the foundation for Boeing's steady rise in the jet airliner market. More recent models, including the the 787 Dreamliner, have improved aerodynamics, advances in engine technology, better fuel consumption, and improved cabin features. Since NASA no longer flies people and cargo to the International Space Station it is turning to private companies. Virgin Galactic's Space Ship One and Space Ship Two along with SpaceX's Dragon show how private companies are moving into commercial spaceflight with new advances in aeronauticsSkyscraper: reaching the skies: Architects and construction engineers are building taller, larger and smarter by inventing new materials that are lightweight, robust and sturdy. The 21st century skyscraper is being tailored to the demands of location-specific environments/ecosystems and to anticipate extreme weather. This issue centers on the construction of the Burj Dubai -- the tallest man-made structure in the world. The 162 floors of the Burj Dubai soar to 818 metersEngineering: prosthetic innovations: Scientists and engineers have made great strides in recent years with prosthetics and orthotics. In this program we discuss how designers simulate the anatomy and physiology of missing limbs. Though some prosthetics are simple and minimally functional, others are complex bionic artificial limbs with improved designs, using advanced hydraulics, lightweight materials such as carbon fiber and computer microprocessors and sensors. This program will highlight how advances in prosthetics have improved life for people with certain injuries and disabilitiesIntroduction to robotic technology: People have a lot of different ideas about what the future will be like. Will there be flying cars? Will people live on the Moon? One thing that most people agree on is that robots will probably be very important. So let's have a look at robots--how they work, how they're made and how they're going to change the world. Robot technology is already changing our World. This program provides an easy-to-understand introduction to the history and applications of robots, along with the basic principles of robot Control Theory and engineering. Robots are some of the most complicated machines to have ever been made, but the basic principles of how they work can be quite easy to understand. Robot designs can be broken down into two different general types: Open Loop and Closed Loop. Open-loop robots repeat the same sequence of pre-programmed actions, no matter what. This type is commonly used by industrial robots, or other robots that only do one job in a very structured environment. They can be very easy to make, since they only do one thing. Closed-loop systems are much more complicated. Instead of just going through a list of pre-programmed actions, the robot looks at the world around it and changes its behavior depending on what it sees. Subjects covered include: A brief history of Robots, how Robots work, types of Robots, the Future of Robots

juvenile

live action

STEAM