Learn about the general job functions of mechanical engineers, the industries that hire them and the occupation's employment prospects.

The mechanical engineering technician supports the mechanical engineer in designing all sorts of things we use in our everyday lives. This Science Buddies site lays out the requirements needed to become a mechanical engineering...

All kinds of apparatus used in every day life are designed by the mechanical engineer. The career casts a broad engineering net. This Science Buddies site lays out the requirements needed to become a mechanical engineer, as well as the...

Explores how to predict degrees of freedom of a mechanism. Understand that in mechanics degrees of freedom is one of the most important concepts. Video length: 4 min. 41 sec.

This video and article explore the differences and the similarities between petrol and diesel engines. The article discusses all topics found in the video. [4:06]

Through a series of activities, students discover that the concept of mechanical advantage describes reality fairly well. They act as engineers creating a design for a ramp at a construction site by measuring four different inclined...

Students are introduced to various types of hearing impairments and the types of biomedical devices that engineers have designed to aid people with this physical disability.

Students learn about the engineering design process as they design, build, test, and evaluate a voting system made with everyday materials. The objective of the lesson is to learn how engineering has changed methods of voting over time...

In this article and video, learn about how engineers can use the Von Mises stress to predict when their design will fail. By completing the calculations, engineers can find the maximum value of Von Mises and can be more accurate with the...

Students learn about the engineering design process by working in teams to design and build a pen out of everyday materials that can deliver a controlled amount of ink to a sheet of paper.

Learn how a velocity analysis is necessary to make sure a mechanism is properly designed. This video will discuss how a velocity analysis is completed. Site also includes an article which discusses concepts found in video. [5:07]

Explains all the things that must be taken into consideration when engineers evaluate the soundness and viability of a particular design.

Did you know that some bridges have failed due to the effect of vibration? This article and video explore vibration and its importance in the design of civil structures and mechanical equipment. The article discusses all concepts covered...

Why are those "simple" games at the fairs, carnivals, and boardwalks so hard? Is it really lack of skill or coordination or do those concessionaires use some basic laws of science to help them set up the games in their favor? This...

Students continue to explore the story of building a pyramid, learning about the simple machine called a pulley. They learn how a pulley can be used to change the direction of applied forces and move/lift extremely heavy objects, and the...

Students will learn to apply the principles and concepts associated with energy and the transfer of energy in an engineering context through the designing and making of a musical instrument. The students must choose from a variety of...

Students learn about the engineering design process as they design, build, and test spinning tops using everyday materials. The objective of the design is to have the top spin at least 10 seconds within a thirty centimeter diameter.

Using the same method for measuring friction that was used in the previous lesson (Discovering Friction), students design and conduct an experiment to determine if the amount of area over which an object contacts a surface it is moving...

Mechanical energy is the most easily understood form of energy for students. When there is mechanical energy involved, something moves. Mechanical energy is a very important concept to understand. Engineers need to know what happens when...

This lesson introduces middle schoolers to three of the six simple machines used by many engineers: the lever, the pulley, and the wheel-and-axle. In general, engineers use the lever to magnify the force applied to an object, the pulley...

Using common materials (spools, string, soap), students learn how a pulley can be used to easily change the direction of a force, making the moving of large objects easier. They see the difference between fixed and movable pulleys, and...

Using a household fan, cardboard box and paper towels, student teams design and build an evaporative cooler (swamp cooler). They learn about the process that cools water during the evaporation of water. They make calculations to...

Momentum is not only a physical principle; it is a psychological phenomenon. Students learn how the "Big Mo" of the bandwagon effect contributes to the development of fads and manias, and how modern technology and mass media accelerate...

A video and article explaining how cars use limited slip differential to overcome traction issues of the drive wheel. The article discusses all topics found in the video. [4:56]