Cool Things Engineers Do

Transcription

1 2016 More Than a Worksheet by Sarah Wiggins An engineer is part scientist, part inventor, part artist, part architect, part mathematician, part creative thinker, and there are many more parts, too! Engineers take scientific and mathematical knowledge and apply it to solve real world problems. The work of engineers is all around us. Here are some cool things that engineers do. Engineers design cool buildings. This is a picture of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia. Engineers also design skyscrapers, towers, bridges, tunnels and roads. If you can drive your car on it or go inside it, an engineer probably helped design it. Engineers design roller coasters. Not only do engineers design the tracks for roller coasters, they also help design the cars for the rides to ensure passenger safety. Other rides and attractions at theme parks and fairs are designed by engineers, too. Engineers design space shuttles and other space vehicles. The picture shows a Mars Rover. If it has carried an astronaut into space or landed on the moon or another planet, then engineers helped design it. Not only spacecraft, engineers also design planes, jets, helicopters, cars, and pretty much every vehicle you can think of. Engineers design special effects for movies. Engineers help create special effect cars like the one in the picture. Do you see the metal 'arm' that is holding it up so that it can appear to hit the wall from above? Engineers also create special effects with lights, sound, and computer technology, too.

2 2016 More Than a Worksheet Engineers create new toys. Many big toy companies, like Hasbro, hire toy engineers. They invent new toys and also ensure that toys work properly and are safe for children to play with. Engineers invent new food. Food engineers use chemistry to create different types of foods. They also find new ways to store and package food to keep it fresh. Engineers create state-of-the-art sports equipment. Sports engineers create equipment that is lightweight and durable. They also create equipment to help prevent injuries. Engineers design playground equipment. Engineers design playground equipment. They make sure it is solid and sturdy. They also make sure it is safe for children. Engineers create artificial body parts. This is a picture of a prototype of an artificial heart. Engineers also create artificial limbs to help people who have suffered the loss of a limb. Engineers do more than that in the medical field, too. They also help create tools for surgeons and hospital equipment. Engineers try to find ways to protect the environment from pollution. Environmental engineers find way to protect the earth from water and air pollution. They also help clean up pollution that has already happened, like oil spills. Engineering is a vast field that finds its way into almost every part of life. Perhaps one day, you will use your creativity and problem solving skills as an engineer!

3 Discussion Question 1 What are some things at your school that were probably designed by engineers? Discussion Question 2 Think of the items mentioned in the passage that were created or designed by engineers. Which of them is the most important? You can only choose one! Discussion Question 3 What are some things that you saw on your way to school that were probably designed by engineers? Discussion Question 4 In what ways are engineers important to society? Discussion Question 5 Would you like to be an engineer? What kind would you be? Discussion Question 6 How would your life be different without engineers? Discussion Question 7 If you could have lunch with an engineer, think of 5 questions you would ask him or her. Discussion Question 8 Were there any pieces of information from the passage that surprised you about engineers? What else would you like to know about engineers?

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5 Credits: Photo Credits: Sydney Opera House By Bernard Gagnon (Own work) [GFDL (h6p:// or CC BY- SA 3.0 (h6p:// creaivecommons.org/licenses/by- sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Roller Coaster Public Domain Mars Rover By Peter Hya6 (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (h6p://creaivecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Movie Set Car By Jordan Messenger (Flickr: [1]) [CC BY- SA 2.0 (h6p://creaivecommons.org/licenses/by- sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Transformer By SuperArIcleGuy (Own work) [CC BY- SA 4.0 (h6p://creaivecommons.org/licenses/by- sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Ben and Jerry s Freezer By Uziel302 (Own work) [CC BY- SA 3.0 (h6p://creaivecommons.org/licenses/by- sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Football Helmet By Illwauk (Own work) [CC BY- SA 3.0 (h6p://creaivecommons.org/licenses/by- sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Playground By Balurbala (Own work) [CC BY- SA 3.0 (h6p://creaivecommons.org/licenses/by- sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia ArLficial Heart Wellcome Images [CC BY 4.0 (h6p://creaivecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)], via Wikimedia Smokestack By Gyre (Own work) [GFDL (h6p:// CC- BY- SA- 3.0 (h6p:// creaivecommons.org/licenses/by- sa/3.0/) or CC BY- SA (h6p://creaivecommons.org/licenses/ by- sa/ )], via Wikimedia