What is Engineering: Definition and 996 Discussions

Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more specialized fields of engineering, each with a more specific emphasis on particular areas of applied mathematics, applied science, and types of application. See glossary of engineering.
The term engineering is derived from the Latin ingenium, meaning "cleverness" and ingeniare, meaning "to contrive, devise".

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  1. abdulhayee

    Admissions How to prove Physics competency to grad school admission committees?

    Greetings, This is a slightly longer post but it's coming from someone who's humbly and sincerely passionate+motivated about pursuing Physics and hence I'd be immensely grateful to everyone who can help me clear my confusions and see a ray of light and hope! You'd be doing me a solid :) My...
  2. A

    Sizing an Isolation Transformer for a DC Power Supply

    Good afternoon, How should an upstream isolation transformer be sized for a dc power supply? For example, if we have a power supply with the following specs: Input Voltage: 120 VAC Input Current: 2 Amps Inrush Current: 22 Amps Efficiency: 90% Power Factor: 0.55 Output Voltage: 24 VDC Output...
  3. S

    Motor Sizing for Wheel Endurance Testing

    I am working with a wheel endurance testing application. I am trying to size a motor for the system. Basically, I have a drum which has to be rotated by the motor. I have different size wheels that I have to test. The motor is supposed to rotate the drum and then the wheel is pushed onto the...
  4. D

    Search for specific near infrared transparent materials

    Hello everyone, I am looking for a material with the following characteristics: - It must be machinable - be as thermally insulating as possible, and resistant to a temperature of at least 100°C - transparent to near-infrared light (~1µm wavelength) - relatively resistant to deformation, for...
  5. DaveE

    An engineer's approach to the quadratic formula

    I stumbled across this article from decades past written by the best EE instructor I ever had. I thought it might be of some passing interest to others in highlighting the difference between memorizing a mathematical result vs. truly understanding it. The essence of engineering, in effect. We...
  6. S

    Other Wind Tunnel Research at a Community College

    I'm a student at a community college that was gifted a wind tunnel by a local uni. I'm leading a group of 5+ engineering / science students to refurbish and tune it. The testing chamber is around 12 x 5 x 5 inches, and we have free reign to do anything we'd like. We've had some ideas like...
  7. Gixer1127

    Engineering Calculating the mass of air in a pressurised air tank

    Hey folks, any help will be greatly appreciated. I have, what I thought, was a fairly simple equation to follow to determine the mass of air in a pressurised air tank. See below question and my attempt at solving using the pV = (m/Mr)RT) equation. A pressurised air tank supplies compressed air...
  8. amoonaa

    Admissions Can I do PhD in Physics if I have Bachelors in Engineering and 14 years of industry experience?

    I have bachelors degree in electric engineering and masters in engineering management and 14 years of experience in software product development. So no experience in physics at all. Is it possible to do a phd in physics ? Its always been my passion that i now think about pursuing
  9. E

    Revisiting MCNP: Refreshing Skills for a New Job in Nuclear Engineering

    Hello, After some time away I've gotten back into MCNP. I've been in the field of Nuclear Engineering for over ten years, but I recently changed jobs and need to use MCNP. I'm trying to get my skills back up, since I haven't been using it as much in my old job. Looking forward to some great...
  10. S

    Engineering Bucket supported by wood frame and tension wire

    Attached is an image of the HW problem, included is a YouTube video I found for a solution. Assuming the solution shown is correct my question is about the rest of the system. I always approached problems from a top down "total system" perspective. Then try to isolate the portions of the system...
  11. Z

    What Can You Learn About Engineering on PhysicsForums?

    Hello I'm Mike. I'm a Mech Simulation Engineer. I am grateful with the help from this forum which directly solve my problem. Hope I can gain more engineering knowledge and experience, and also can help others. Best regards!
  12. Edy56

    Engineering Confused about defining unique current loops when using the node voltage method

    Please only respond if you know the node voltage method. I need to write equations for this circuit. My problem is that 1 has two paths towards 3, so when I write equations do I write both of those paths or only one. U30(1(-jXc1)+1/(jXl1+R1)+1/(jXl2)-U10((1/(-jXc1)+1/(R1+jXl1))-U20.... (the...
  13. Edy56

    Engineering Calculate voltage and temperature for this temperature-dependent resistor

    Is my work correct?
  14. Bozza36

    Engineering Intentional placement of additional mechanical loads in engineering

    Hello. My answer to this question would be something along the lines of the placement of additional loads can allow for structural testings to investigate forces, bending moments and shear stresses in order to optimise beam designs. However, is this what the question is asking?
  15. Ranger Mike

    Everything that they teach a M.E. major in university

    Upon completion you will know why cow magnets taped to your automobiles fuel line will add 2 to 5 miles per gallon fuel milage to any automobile! https://www.magnetsource.com/collections/cow-magnets-l1 but I digress!! this was a thing in the oil embargo in 1970s no shi#!
  16. dyah09

    Engineering Natural frequency of clamped-hinged column

    I have a column clamped at the bottom and for the top, I use hinged BC but free at the Y axis. I have the dimension and the material properties. How to calculate its natural frequency?
  17. K

    Engineering How Does Cup Anemometer Design Utilize Fluid Mechanics Principles?

    First, this class uses Frank White's Fluid Mechanics textbook. This particular problem is taken straight from chapter 7, which is on "Flow Past Immersed Bodies" and is basically focused on external flow, geometry effects, and boundary-layer conditions. So I imagine that the problem makes use of...
  18. L

    Engineering Solve Superposition Theorem for R1, R2 Circuit

    i have this question and i just want to make sure i am on the right track as i know there are quite a few steps to this to get to the final soultions i need to find Current at r1 voltage at r1 current at r2 voltage at r2 i have so far split this into 2 drawings so i am dealing with one power...
  19. A

    Engineering Drawing velocity polygon for a press mechanism

    Hello, I'm new to the forum, I want to ask help on this problem here, above is a press mechanism and I'm tasked to draw a velocity polygon based on this mechanism. The point of contact between the two gears is A and consider it as a swivel hinge (rotating but stay still), so I guess it's O2...
  20. Wrichik Basu

    Engineering Issue with shift registers — PIPO, PISO, SIPO and SISO

    We are currently constructing shift registers in our practicals, and I am facing an issue with the circuits. Posting this in the homework section because it arose out of college (thus, coursework). We have to construct four types of (4-bit) shift registers — SISO, SIPO, PISO and PIPO. I feel...
  21. K

    Measuring the Speed of Sound in Water, Using Faraday's Law

    Hi! This project involves both mechanical and electrical elements, so I'm discussing it in this forum since I'm not sure which one it would fit better into. I'm working on an experiment in which I'm trying to measure the speed of sound through water. The approach is simple: I have a long...
  22. O

    I Uncovering the Forces on Drum Lugs: An Engineering Design Exploration

    I am currently designing an alternative to normal acoustic drum lugs and I need to find the forces that are felt by the tuning rods of a drum for the engineering background to my design. I have been able to use the 2D wave equation assuming uniform tension on the membrane and found values of the...
  23. D

    At a Crossroads Between STEM Majors (narrowing interests)

    Hey all, Long time forum lurker here. There's a lot on my mind, but I will do my best to keep it concise: I'm an undergrad chemical engineering student, just starting my junior year. I have found myself at somewhat of a crossroads concerning my career pathway: Originally, my plan was to finish...
  24. Astronuc

    NS Derailment, East Palestine, Ohio - 3 Feb, 2023 - Engineering Aspect

    Here I want to focus on the technical matters of train operation, defect detection, the accident (derailment), which is currently under investigation (by NTSB and FRA) and the investigation itself. https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/RRD23MR005.aspx The derailment became significant when...
  25. E

    Is My Samovar Really 110V or 220V? Decoding the Resistance of the Element

    Need some help please. Bought a Samovar (electric water pot) from overseas. Seller told me it is 110V compatible but the base plate not sp clearly says 110v/220V in Russian. Seller tells me that I should not use it in a 220V outlet but when plugged into a 110V it took 45 minutes to boil 8L...
  26. filo

    Schools Need to decide whether to study Physics or Engineering

    I'm a 17 years old student and I can't choose between studying Physics or Engineering at university, any advice?
  27. W

    DO NOT throw any engineering questions at Chat GPT

    This chatbot has been getting a lot of notice lately - my son, a mech E and I were throwing a variety of questions at it, and then with a bio-chemist last nigh at dinner ( geeks - yes) - anyway. It fun but also makes you feel a little obsolete... I threw a magnetic / induction question at it...
  28. L

    Engineering Finding the right Career Path/Job Prospects in EE

    I've recently graduated from EE and was looking for jobs on the market. While I'm looking for any good opportunity that comes my way, I wanted to plan out my career path and how to achieve it in the long-term. That way, when I run into roadblocks and issues on the job, I'll be able to think...
  29. JordanBolds

    Physics From biomedical engineering to bio-physics to medical physicist

    Hi everyone! I am also very new to this PhysicsForm site, hopefully I am not interrupting any conversation with this question. I have been thinking about switching from biomedical engineering to bio-physics as an undergrad degree with aspirations of eventually becoming a medical physicist. I do...
  30. C

    Determine pump spec necessary to overcome leak

    A vacuum pump is mounted at ground level. The pump is connected to a tree of overhead pipework at a height of 20ft, connected to the pipework are 12 hose reels that can be attached to oil drain tanks. The client requests that the pump be sized so that sufficient vacuum can be achieved to suck...
  31. Pipsqueakalchemist

    Engineering Separately excited DC motor problem (Electrical Engineering)

    Hello, so for this question I know how to solve it but I still have a few questions. First when the question means it's rated at 20 HP and 600 V, it's referring to the source voltage and Pin correct? Also in order to solve this question, the rotation loss Prot was neglected. This was because at...
  32. emilmammadzada

    How to Simulate Charged-Particle Energy-Loss Straggling in MCNP5?

    How can I make a sample code or a simulation about mcnp5 charged-particle energy-loss straggling?How can I find sample examples?
  33. person123

    Saudi Arabia's "The Line" -- why?

    I just found out about Saudi Arabia's "The Line", and I don't want to mock it with my very limited knowledge (I honestly would have thought it was satire), or bring up politics behind it, or go into its lofty goals like 100% clean energy or life enhanced by AI. To me, the first question is just...
  34. H

    Engineering Struggling with a Structural Analysis Problem?

    Diagram of the problem below. I have 45 minutes to finish all parts of this question without reference material. The Mechanics of Materials section of these tests are largely Structural Analysis, which I was not taught to this level in my undergrad degree so I am teaching myself via Youtube...
  35. bigmike94

    Did you start off in Physics before switching to Engineering?

    Summary: For anyone that might have started off in physics but for their head turned by engineering I am just wondering if there’s many out there that started off in physics before discovering engineering was more for them, what made you switch? My degree is in engineering & physics and I...
  36. Al-Layth

    How do Engineers Calculate the Dimensions of their Design Ideas?

    You have a design problem statement, which gives you numerical specifications for performance, spatial constraints etc, and you have finally come up with some mechanism ideas you synthesised into a machine concept. You’ve sketched your design’s parts and the final assembly. So: How do you now...
  37. bigmike94

    Which topics are best to focus on in my spare time for engineering?

    Summary: Which are the best engineering topics to really focus on during my spare time to prepare for the real world. Im on a physics and engineering degree, but will hopefully be doing a masters in engineering, my engineering modules are all the standard broad ones that most engineering...
  38. anorlunda

    Unsolved Engineering Problem: Runaway Anchor Drops

    I presume that numerous competent engineering organizations have addressed anchor drop brake designs many times in history. Nevertheless, runaway anchor drop accidents happen again and again. Therefore, I conclude that the general problem remains unsolved. How would our PF engineers...
  39. MarwaK

    Upside down diffuser engineering

    Hi everyone, I am looking to develop a smart diffuser with a specific design of inserting the scent upside down on the device with a 'click on' mechanism possibly magnetic. My question is from an engineering perspective, what should I be considering with this specific hardware design? I am a SE...
  40. L

    Studying Should I take up electrical engineering or computer science?

    I am currently in my final year of high school in India, and slightly confused as to which course I should take. I've always been interested in physics, and would eventually like to do research in quantum computing. I'm not sure whether to take a B.S. in Physics, or engineering (a BTech) in...
  41. G

    Engineering Career advice for a nuclear engineering graduate

    Hi everyone, I'm from an Asian country, and graduated with M.Sc. degree in nuclear power engineering last year from a university in Russia. Since then, I have been looking for jobs related to nuclear engineering but no luck up till now. Seeing that nuclear energy is getting trendy now in...
  42. wyattmarshall

    Best way to self-teach Electrical Engineering and Embedded Systems?

    Summary: Trying to self-teach Electrical Engineering, Embedded Linux and AVR/ARM to make a career change into embedded systems development and I need suggestions on the best way to do that. I have a plan but I honestly have no idea if its a good one. I have been into computers my whole life...
  43. T

    Engineering project: Harvesting energy from natural water fall

    - design of a micro-turbine based on different scenarios of waterfalls - build a system that involves a battery for storing power - test in the lab I have attached a image. I know the image is not very detailed but wanting some advice on this situation. I have done some water calculations on...
  44. J3J33J333

    Choosing Physics or Electrical Engineering

    Hello, I'm trying to decide between physics and electrical engineering. I like building electrical stuff, and I like solving physics problems, but my main goal is to try to build power systems that integrate things like what can be found in this paper https://arxiv.org/abs/1401.0520. I would...
  45. A

    Engineering Systems Engineering QFD on an Aerial Fire Fighting Aircraft

    Hi everyone, I am currently taking an aerospace systems engineering course and right now, the focus is on Quality Function Deployment (QFD), which is basically a method driven by customer requirements, which can capture customer requirements and systematically convert them into engineering...
  46. A

    Requirements and systems engineering

    Hi all, I am taking a course in systems engineering and we are discussing about requirements and functional architectures. Got me wondering, for the engineers here in the aerospace, do you have any interesting examples relating to missed requirements or to requirements gathering? What about...
  47. T

    Engineering Should I study Engineering Physics or Mechanical Engineering?

    I am unsure of what career to choose. I really like Physics and Math, and I have this desire to know more about things, which is what EP has to offer. I think that EP is mainly theoretical and does not teach many practice, but I believe that I can complement this by entering groups in my...
  48. M

    Job Skills Tips for a Physics BS going into a systems engineering job?

    I was wondered if anyone could give me some tips on what to expect going into a career in systems engineering. I completed my undergrad BS in Physics last year and I have worked as a student trainee optical engineer for two years (Intermittent schedule). I just completed my first year of grad...
  49. DanialK231

    Is a nuclear engineering minor worth an extra semester?

    Summary: Since I did not start out in calculus 1 in my first semester of college I have to take an extra semester in my four years to get my bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering and Clemson offers a minor in Nuclear engineering which would just add 15 more credit hours to my overall degree...
  50. M

    How to program a buzzer to a PIC18F452 with PROTEUS and MPLAB IDE?

    crystal frequency is 4MHz The code i have tried is: #include <p18cxxx.h> #include <xc.h> void main(void) { TRISC = 0; // making TRISC pins output ADCON1 = 0x07; // making them digital pins while(1) { RC0 = 1; __delay_ms(5000); RC0 = 0...
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