Engineering Fundamentals: An Introduction to Engineering, 4th ed.c

Problems 191

Problems

7.1. Seasoned engineers are good at estimating physical val-

ues without using tools. Therefore, you need to begin

developing a “feel” for the sizes of various physical

quantities. This exercise is intended to help you

develop this ability. Using the table below, first esti-

7.2. The following exercises are designed to help you

become aware of the significance of various dimensions

around you. You see these dimensions every day, but

perhaps you never looked at them with the eyes of an

engineer. Measure and discuss the significance of the

dimensions of the following items.

a. The dimensions of your bedroom or living room

b. The dimensions of the hallway

c. The window dimensions

d. The width, height, and thickness of your apartment

doors or dormitory doors

e. The distance from the floor to the doorknob

f. The distance from the floor to the light switches

g. The dimensions of your desk

h. The dimensions of your bed

i. The distance from the floor to the bathroom sink

j. The distance from the tub surface to the showerhead

7. 
   
   
   
   3. In this exercise, you are to explore the size of your class-
      room, the seating arrangements, the location of the
      chalkboard (or the whiteboard) with respect to the class-
      room’s main entrance, and the size of the board relative
      to classroom size. Discuss your findings in a brief report
      to your instructor.
   
   
   
   

a. What are the dimensions of the classroom?

b. How far apart are the seats placed? Is this a com-

fortable arrangement? Why or why not?

c. How far above the floor is the chalkboard (or white-

board) placed? How wide is it? How tall is it? What

is its relative placement in the classroom? Can some-

one sitting in the back corner of the room see the

board without too much difficulty?

7. 
   
   
   
   4. This is a sports-related assignment. First look up the
      dimensions, and then show the dimensions on a dia-
      gram. You may need to do some research to obtain the
      information required here.
      a. A basketball court
      b. A tennis court
      c. A football field
      d. A soccer field
      e. A volleyball court
   
   
   
   


8. 
   
   
   
   5. These dimensions concern transportation systems.
      Look up the dimensions of the following vehicles; give
      the model year and the source of your information.
      a. A car of your choice
      b. BMW 760 Li
      c. Honda Accord
   
   
   
   

mate the dimensions of the given objects. Next mea-

sure, or look up, the actual dimensions of the objects,

and compare them to your estimated values. How close

are your estimations? Do you have a “feel” for units of

length yet?

Estimated Values Measured Values Difference

Object (cm) (in.) (cm) (in.) (cm) (in.)

This book

A pen or a pencil

A laptop computer (closed)

A 12-fl.-oz. soda can

The distance from home to school (km) ( miles) (km) ( miles) (km) ( miles)

Use your car’s odometer to

measure the actual distance

A dollar bill (cm) (in.)

The height of your engineering ( m) (ft)

building

Wingspan of a Boeing 747 ( m) (ft) ( m) (ft) ( m) (ft)

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