Expert: Paul Soderman - 3/9/2002

Question
Hey there... My name is Kirsty and I'm in a bit of a pickle...
I am studying engineering subjects at school (High school) so that when I graduate I can go to Uni and become a mechanical/automotive engineer. See, racing cars are my life and its what I want to do when I grow up. Race and engineer cars. Well, my problem lies here. I am 2 weeks away from half yearlys and I'm in year 12 (Final year!)... but I don't get any of the work from year 11 onwards. It all revolves around this. What the engineering studies course calls "Engineering Mechanics" pretty much the nuts and bolts mechanics like moments, resultants, all that stuff. Easy as to an everyday engineer, but not for me who is in an environment where asking is IMPOSSIBLE!
I can't even find a third force in a force wanting a resultant system!
HELP ME! PLEASE!
Lots of love
Kirsty
xxx
ooo

Answer
OK Kirsty, don't despair.  There is plenty of time for that later.  Meanwhile, we need to break your problem down, like any engineering problem, to the basic elements that can be tackled individually.

1.  Getting information....  I never heard of a school where asking was impossible.  But if that is the case, it behooves you to search for information elsewhere.  I would start with the library.  There are numerous books on statics or strength of materials or engineering mechanics that cover your subject.  The web is out there, and I can answer technical questions as long as it is not just doing homework problems.  Find a tutor.  Talk to a college engineering student if you can find one.

2.  Moments, resultants, all that stuff....Sounds to me like you may have brushed over some of the basics like vectors and geometry.  Those math classes are essential to engineering.  You need lots of them, and if that is really difficult you might rethink engineering as a career path.

We all hit a few bumps in the road.  Find a road you like and work at it.  Good luck.

Paul