Pre-Engineering Primer: Introduction to Language, Materials, and Methods of Engineering

Many potential future engineers are intimidated by the mystery of engineering or overconfident about what they do not understand. A practical foundation of engineering knowledge can remove these barriers and launch aspiring engineers toward a rewarding future in engineering. This book introduces students to topics and applications of engineering to "engineering projects" they may experience in high school or first year college. Students read about engineering-related topics, discuss them with peers, and apply them to their projects. Through this project-based use of engineering principles students gain practical understanding of engineering principles, think like engineers, and begin to identify with the engineering professional. They have a credible exposure to engineering that can impact their studies and career paths.This book was created to prepare high school student teams for FIRST Tech Challenge robotics design and development. However, it is suitable for any students preparing for their first "engineering project" that requires design, fabrication, and testing of a mechanical solution.