Mechanical engineering Definition and 545 Threads

I got a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and I am now doing a PhD in Nanotechnology in which I am synthesizing a nanomaterial. Someone just told me that nanotechnology is more like mechanical engineering and materials engineering than any other thing. Based on my work I can see the relationship...

I currently work in the pharmaceutical industry and I work in a lab testing purity of controlled substances. I have wanted to do engineering for several years now, more specifically electrical or mechanical. I have started to develop medical conditions due to exposure to chemicals in the lab. So...

I think I'm kind of geared more towards Mechanical Engineering Technology because of it's practicality, but I also want to make my own designs, which isn't really taught in MET, where you get to do other people's designs. But for some reason I don't want to do just ME or MET. So I've 2...

So I've been a part-time student for the last couple of years taking classes at a rather high-ranked public university that's well known for its engineering program. The problem is, my GPA is crap and so the only engineering program that will accept me is the engineering physics program. It's an...

I wanted to do chemical engineering at a particular uni but was ineligible to enter any of the engineering programs (lets call this uni A). I have 2 options since that uni A is the only uni in my location which offers chem eng. 1) Major in chemistry at uni A and take similar units as chem eng...

Hi i want to know how to make a 3D metal box whose length, width, and height i can change. For example, i have a box of 3 m x 3 m x 3 m. i should be able to extend any dimension by a maximum of 1 meter i.e 4 meter (say). I want to use this to store items whose size is unknown, but the limits of...

Hello everyone! So, I am a mechanical engineering student but I've recently discovered my passion for electronics and computer science. I would eventually like to pursue a graduate degree in either or both (if that's possible) of these fields. I am thinking to get a mathematics minor to help me...

I have recently transferred to UCSD from a community college, but I am not sure if I should continue my degree. Before I ask what I really want to know, let me explain my where I am at in school and life right now. I hope you enjoy reading :) but if you are willing, I am very interested in...

Hello I am a senior in High School and I'm wanting to become a mechanical engineer but I have an issue I'm wondering how much of a disadvantage I would have for not taking Physics or Precalc in High school. I am now studying them up by myself even though I can't take them in High-school.

Hello Physics Forums Folks! I finally took the plunge to join your forums, as I should have done way earlier in the semester. I'm very impressed with the manner in which problems are worked out here and formulas are shown. I have a weakness in being able to manipulate the formulas in physics and...

Hi If anyone has job prospect info, statistics or anything about these, please tell. Thanks a lot Energy and Fluid Systems Manufacturing and Dynamic Systems Materials Engineering

Hello I need guidance on selection of a hydraulic motor. Motor would be used to drive the wheel of a vehicle. Motor needs to generate a torque of 18.3Nm in order to overcome static friction and move the vehicle. And the motor needs to be small enough to be coupled with the tire (see the picture)...

Hey guys. So here's my story (and I'm sticking to it! - current career joke). Back in high school I had thought that a career working on cars was my dream job. I went to Lincoln College of Technology at 17 and when I realized how big of a waste of money it was I left (with a 3.8). Moved around a...

Hello professionals and physics forum users, I am an engineering undergraduate (mechanical) and I was hoping you could shed some light for me. Currently I am: -engaged in the Formula SAE team at my university -Former Military officer candidate (

I need help in understanding how to conduct this experiment. I found this lab report online but it is confusing https://www.google.ae/#q=metacentric+height+experiment http://site.iugaza.edu.ps/mymousa/files/Experiment-2hydraulics-lab-.pdf I am finding it difficult to visualize the...

Hello, I am in college for mechanical engineering right now and was wondering how it is in the future when i get an engineering job, any insights or suggestions for the field? im wondering how it is on a day to day basis Thanks

Hi everyone, I am new to the forum, so please let me know if I have made any mistakes in my posting location. As mentioned in the title, I am returning to school for a second undergrad degree. My first degree was in Business Administration - which did not satisfy my academic needs (to say the...

Hello everyone, I'm attempting to come up with a way to calculate the most efficient 7 members truss layout using Scilab. The assignment is to make a highway sign support. It has to be L shaped and the truss system is only for the top horizontal part. Two supports. The sign is hanging at the...

Alright, the problem at a glance is rather simple: find the mechanical advantage at two given values of θ2. Given: rO2A = r2 r02C = rin rAB = r3 rO4B = r4 rO4D = rout rO2O4 = r1 θ1 = 135° Find: Mechanical advantage when θ2 is equal to 104°, and when θ2 is equal to 91°. Equations to use: Mech...

When a 90kg man stands on a snow-covered trail, he sinks a certain amount into the snow-covered trail, he sinks a certain amount into the snow because the compressive stress between his boots and the snow is larger than the snow can support without crumbling. Assuming typical cross-country skis...

Dear Community, am 24 and currently not occupationally active. Was in Austria HTL MÖDLING: Department of Industrial Engineering. However, the last year not completed, as 19 year old teenager I could have interested me more for something else. But yet got jobs but in the field of technical sales...

Hello fellow PF members, I'm currently in my senior year in Mechanical Engineering at Oregon State University. I'm considering going on to get my Master's Degree to gain more knowledge (since I'm fascinating by them). I really like Math and have a Math Minor already. I am looking to go into a...

Hi! I am now doing my first semester for an integrated master's degree in mechanical engineering at a Norwegian university. I am doing well, but I have been second-guessing my choice for a while now. I have to admit I really was uncertain about what to chose, and while I mainly considered...

Homework Statement So I am currently in my final year working on my thesis. Below is the details of my thesis topic: Metacentric height (Computational) It is a simple matter to determine whether a body will float in a liquid, it is not so easy to determine the orientation at which the body...

Homework Statement So I am currently in my final year working on my thesis. Below is the details of my thesis topic: Metacentric height (Computational) It is a simple matter to determine whether a body will float in a liquid, it is not so easy to determine the orientation at which the body...

Hello, I am constructing a clinostat for an Experimental biochemistry research project. Physics is not my forte, and as such I would like advice on what type of low torque motor I need to rotate an 85g cylinder at ~60rpm. A diagram of the design I am using can be found here...

I am an student of Materials engineering I'm 4th semester. I have always wanted to develop airplanes (I grew up close to an airport). I know for some articles on internet that Mechanical engineering is closely related to aerospace engineering. Over the 4th semesters in materials engineering I...

I'm currently double majoring in math and mechanical engineering. I am trying to figure my next schedule out for school and I was hoping you guys could give your opinion on what I should do. Thank you. These are the classes I am looking to take -Phys 2 -Phys 2 Lab -Statics -Linear Algebra...

I'm curious as to roughly how many mechanical engineering graduates have found jobs where they utilise the knowledge they gained in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer as part of their university degrees. Reason I'm curious is because, from my class, I'm not actively aware of...

Hello fellow PF members, Some background about me: I am currently a senior (actually is my 6th year in college) in Mechanical Engineering at Oregon State University. I am on track and will be graduating next summer. Given how long I have been in college, I would want to go straight to work...

Homework Statement What would be the effect of calculated value if: a. Jockey weight is in error by 1 g? b. Distance from vane center to pivot point is in error by 1 mm? c. diameter of nozzle 0.1mm different from actual nozzle diameter. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution as the error...

Member ABC is supported by a pin and bracket at C and by an inextensible cable of length L  7.8 m that is attached at A and B and passes over a frictionless pulley at D. Assuming P  450 N and   35 and neglecting the mass of ABC and the radius of the pulley, simplify the problem as much as...

Hey guys, I am currently studying Mechanical Engineering in the UK. For my final year, we have to basically invent or design something that hasn't been invented before or improve something that's already been invented.Now unlike my cousin who's studying Aerospace Engineering in the US, he told...

I am struggling with a question in my coursework, and would appreciate some guidance. The question is: The component shown in Fig 1 is made from a material with the following properties and is subjected to a compressive force of 5kN. Material Properties : Young’s Modulus of Elasticity – 200...

Hi guys, tomorrow I'll start my freshman year in Engineering. I like both mechanical and computer/software engineering, but, to be honest, on equal terms I would choose mechanical engineering, because I like dynamics. However I wouldn't mind being a computer/software engineer, since I'm a...

Hello fellow thinkers, my name is Sofa King (haha). I'm looking forward to being apart of this community. They say that all great minds think alike, but why are we all so different? In terms of physics, and math in general, there are so many ways of getting an answer that it proves a form of...

I need to purchase a device that will push something forward and backward continuously, in order to make wings flap like a bird. Linear actuators seem to be the right thing to buy, except these require pressing buttons to go forward and then back. What can I buy/what can I do that will allow a...

i'm doing my second year B.tech in Mechanical engineering. value added courses such as: 1. lean manufacturing 2. six sigma 3. Quality Control 4. 5's when should i do such courses? should i do it while I'm working or in the third year.

Hi all! Currently I'm a business major and I realized after a month long car rebuilding project that I should probably pursue another major. My entire life I've been fascinated with building contraptions and what not. I'm pretty behind in the game right now, and would like to do as much...

Hey, this is my first post on physicsforum but I've read a lot on this website and the people here seem really insightful so I thought I would give it a try. I have a delimma, I'm in my last year of high school and am deciding which major to go into at the university of Alberta up here in...

Homework Statement Car (A) C180K WITH A 1.8 litre supercharged spark ignition, Maximum power output 104kw, based upon standard fuel efficiency test a vehicle with this engine would consume 6.1 liters over 100k journey Car (B) C220 CDI with a 2.0 litre turbocharged diesel engine. Maximum...

I'm an incoming senior in high school and beginning college apps. I'm looking into majors and trying to figure out which is best for me. I have a couple of questions about physics vs mechanical engineering: 1) Which field is best for a woman, not only in college but as a career? 2) Is a...

Homework Statement Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution So part A is correct. I'm completely stumped for part B. I feel like not enough information is given. All I know is the temperature. I tried using ratios but it didn't give me the right answer. How am I supposed to...

Hi All Please excuse my naiveness in advance, I am a year 12 student and I have a few (may be stupid) questions for current mechanical engineers. How difficult is it? I am currently studying mathematical methods (second highest level of math we can possibly do, and a prerequisite for any...

I build things. I need mechanical parts from time to time, and I always have trouble finding the parts I need because I don't have a vocabulary from the mechanical engineering world - I hope to acquire the language by living in the forum for a while (and thinks in advance to anyone who can...

hello everyone. I'm taking a diploma in civil engineering and think to switch to mechanical engineering for my degree. What I'm worry about is I'm afraid that i can't catch up with the new syllabus because from i heard that mechanical engineering have more calculation than civil engineering. Is...

Hello, I am a first year Civil Engineering student. I am not sure if I want to continue Civil or switch to Mechanical. I like them equally, both have their pros and cons. My current university offers a 5 year (150 credits) BEng program in Civil and Mechanical , another local university...

I'm sure these two have been compared before, but I'm wondering if anyone could grant me insight on what the Mechanical Engineering/Civil Engineering industry is like. I know Mechanical Engineering is much more broad, but how is the work on a day to day basis? What is the work on a day to day...

Hey Everyone! I was wandering what applications (if any) advanced math topics like topology, functional analysis, abstract algebra, etc. have in Mechanical Engineering. Thanks a lot!

I am thinking about being a mechanical engineer but there are a few things I wanted to take into account before I picked this field. First, the amount of available jobs is important. Second, salary. I'm not a money crazed person but I plan on raising a family. I want to be able to pay...