Who are we?
Mechanical Engineering is a very broad category of engineering. Probably the first thing that comes to mind when you hear mechanical engineering is automotive engineering. In fact, this category of mechanical engineering is just the tip of the iceberg. Mechanical engineers can be involved in aerospace engineering, thermal engineering, material science, and other smaller categories.
What do we do?
Automotive engineers design the systems and equipment that propel vehicles. This includes the engine, braking system, suspension, frame, interior, exterior, and many other things associated with vehicle design. Aerospace engineers design air and space vehicles and also handle the physics involved with air and space travel. Thermal engineering involves heating and cooling of equipment and enclosed environments. A common example of a thermal engineer is a person who designs HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems in buildings. Material science involves the study of materials such as metals, ceramics, plastics, and composites. This branch of mechanical engineering is important when it comes to making strong and light materials which are very important to the success of other branches, i.e. aerospace engineering. Strong and light materials are required for speed and efficiency in an aircraft.
Why do we do what we do?
The single most common value that all engineers share is safety. Products can never be designed to be too safe because lives can be at stake. Take for example your daily driver car. If it is only designed to withstand forces that the engineer expects it to see, it could very well fail if it experiences forces beyond what is expected. That is why there is a term called a factor of safety that is used when designing everything from a bookshelf to a spacecraft. If the factor of safety is not selected high enough, the product could fail under normal operating conditions, which is the worst nightmare for any engineer. Engineers have an ethical duty to design products that will perform in the safest way possible.
Mechanical Engineering is a very broad category of engineering. Probably the first thing that comes to mind when you hear mechanical engineering is automotive engineering. In fact, this category of mechanical engineering is just the tip of the iceberg. Mechanical engineers can be involved in aerospace engineering, thermal engineering, material science, and other smaller categories.
Automotive engineers design the systems and equipment that propel vehicles. This includes the engine, braking system, suspension, frame, interior, exterior, and many other things associated with vehicle design. Aerospace engineers design air and space vehicles and also handle the physics involved with air and space travel. Thermal engineering involves heating and cooling of equipment and enclosed environments. A common example of a thermal engineer is a person who designs HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems in buildings. Material science involves the study of materials such as metals, ceramics, plastics, and composites. This branch of mechanical engineering is important when it comes to making strong and light materials which are very important to the success of other branches, i.e. aerospace engineering. Strong and light materials are required for speed and efficiency in an aircraft.
It is interesting to know who mechanical engineeris are and what you guys do. I am willing to know more details about the applications of mechanical engineers and the requirements of knowledge to be a qualified mechanical engineer.
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