Science and Engineering Academy

Click here to edit subtitle

Burlington Resource and Recovery Center Questions
 1. Why was the land fill covered with a tarp?
  The landfill was covered to prevent water from seeping into the landfill.
2. What role do Falcons play in the resource and recovery process?
The Falcons pick rodents and other vermin off the tarp covering the landfill.
 3. What year was the resource and recovery Eco-Complex built?
The eco-complex was built in the 1980s (probably took a while to build) and commenced operation in 1988-89.
4. Please List and describe the steps in the resource and recovery process.
1. The trucks bring in the trash from I-295.
2. The trash is dumped into the landfill.
3. A Cherry Picker pulls out the materials, tires, metal, and corrugated cardboard. 
5. What Types of waste are collected at the Resource and Recovery Complex?
Untreated wood, scrap metal, tires, and hazardous waste.
6. Please list and describe what functions are controlled via computer control systems in the greenhouse/ hydroponics lab?
The temperature, the irrigation and the lighting are all controlled via computer control systems.
7. What items did you see grow hydroponically?
We only saw basil growing hydroponically in the greenhouse.
8. List the types of engineering involved in the resource and recovery complex systems?
Electrical engineering, Social Engineering, and Green Engineering.
9. How many mega-watts are produced by the turbine?
7.125 MW are produced by a turbine. 
10. Which gas is harvested from the landfills?
Methane is harvested from the landfill.
11. Describe in Detail the process of water collection from the landfill?
The facility hires another company to pump the leachate out of the landfill.
13. What were the names of the three presenters who spoke with us?
 We only spoke with two speakers due to a transportation incident. One of their names is Stark, and I didn't catch the second person's name.
14. Please describe the issues that developed from the Deitz & Watson factory fire.
After all the meat was burned, the main problem was the stench. The meat was brought to the landfill and the problem was solved by covering the landfill with soil.
15. Please list a minimum of 5 ways the resource and recovery complex positively impacts the environment.
 1.The facility provides electricity from methane gas vacuumed from the landfill.
 2.The facility hydroponically grows plants, growing them at the most efficiency.
 3.The facility offers to collect hazardous material.
 4.The facility reuses the untreated wood waste to cover the landfill.
 5.The facility sits over an aquifer and thus provides its own water.

Homasote Questions

Where is the Homasote Plant Located?

The Homasote Plant is located in West Trenton, about 45 minutes away from Edison High School.

How many tons of paper does the Homasote Company recycle each day?

The Company recycles 100 tons a day.

At what temperature does the Pulper heat the pulp?

The pulper, a giant blender, heats the pulp to 140 degrees.

How far is the radius of Homasote recycling paper suppliers?

The Homasote uses paper from the local recycling, about a 40 mile radius from the plant.

Is wax used?

Yes, wax is used in the production of Homasote.

Where does their new additive come from?

The ink comes from the paper being used.

What was your impression an perspective/comments on the trip?

      The Homasote Plant was a mixed experience for a green engineering unit. First off, the effort to conserve materials and reduce waste products was evident. The end product, homasote, is very environmentally conscious:  a structural material made out of recycled paper. However, the factory wasn't as pretty. Walking through the factory I noticed that there were puddles of water at different parts of the plant and even a burst pipe spouting water on the floor. Also, the factory had many machines that appeared not being used, probably a result of an 100 years of innovation at the factory. The factory could use the space occupied to increase production of homasote or storage or paper.

Ch15. Questions

1. What is human factors (ergonomics)?

The application of the knowledge about human physical characteristics, behavior, and abilities to the design of products, systems, and environments for safe and effective use.

2 .Why is it necessary to understand human factors to be a successful designer/engineer?

Consumers will use the most comfortable product. Engineers need to know these factors to make their products comfortable and easy to use.

3. How is anthropomorphic data used during the design process?

Designers use this data to design easy to use products. When designing general products, they use the data from around the 50th percentile.

4. How are principles of human physical characteristics, behavior, and abilities applied during the design process?

Designers use these principles to create a product that is accustomed to these principles.

5. How can universal design principles  help everyone?

The design is equitable, flexible, simple, intuitive, perceptible, has a high tolerance, requires low physical effort, and is easy to reach.

6. What steps are used to do human factors design?

1. Identify the target population, 2. Find appropriate human factors data about that target population's physical characteristics, behavior, and abilities, 3. Apply that data to all possible design solutions, and 4. Test a solution using members of the target population.

7. How is a design evaluated for safety, comfort, and effective human use?

Designs are evaluated against human factors.

Engineering Essay        

          Engineering is a big part of the average person's lifestyle. Just by waking up, brushing your teeth, opening the fridge, and hopping on the bus, you have encountered three feats of engineering. The toothbrush was ergonomically engineered for comfort both in hand and tooth; the fridge was electrically engineered for keeping a constant temperature, insulating the food; the bus was mechanically engineered. Mostly every object we take for granted has been engineered.

 

           Engineering is a big part of my daily routine as well. After coming to school, I walk through the halls to my locker. Ergonomics, or human engineering, has made the lock easy to reach, at waist level. Sitting down in the seat of my classes, it is easy to tell that the desks have been engineered as well. They are attached to the chair with a slight incline to hold my books. After classes are over, I go home and grab a snack. The refrigerator's handles were designed to be accessible for people of all sizes.

 

          Mechanical engineering is also a big factor in peoples life. Cars, public transit, eighteen-wheelers are all acts of mechanical engineering. In my life, cars specifically are an amazing feat because they can transport multiple people, or entire families. Another feat of mechanical engineering are the heating systems in most homes. The air ducts heat or cool air to the preferred temperature and then move it to through the air ducts. Lastly, stoves are a big factor of peoples lives. The ability to heat up food at home has benefitted many lives. The home stove was mechanically engineered for this purpose. 

 

          Many objects we take for granted have been engineered. So many in fact, that if engineering did not exist, many people's daily routines wouldn't exist either! The toothbrush, the fridge, the stove, etc. were all created with a purpose, all to solve a problem. That's what engineer's do, solve problems, to help create a better world for people to live in. Becoming an engineer to solve the world's problems seems like quite a mountain to climb to any, but to me it seems like only one climb away from being on top of the mountain.

Ch1. Questions

1. Why do humans design?

Humans design to solve criteria and constraints.

2.Who are design professionals and how do they contribute to society?

They make useful objects look good, or focus on their aesthetics.

3. How did the Industrial Revolution shape the world as we know it?

People moved from agriculture, or producing food, to working in industries, producing goods. As industries became larger and larger, society itself shifted to what it is now.

4. How were the early engineering societies established?

 Early engineering societies were established by committees to set national and international standards.

5. Why did engineering societies develop standards?

Standards lower costs, improve quality, and protect the environment.

6. What are the greatest engineering achievements of the twentieth century?

The greatest engineering achievements are electrification, automobiles, airplanes, water supply and distribution, electronics, radio and television, agricultural mechanization, computers, telephone, air conditioning and refrigeration, highways, spacecraft, internet, imaging, household applications, health technologies, petroleum and petrochemical technologies, laser and fiber optics, nuclear technologies, and high-performance materials.

7.What are the modern engineering professions?

Civil, mechanical, industrial, electrical, electronic, computer, aerospace, chemical, environmental, nuclear, biomedical, and agricultural engineering are all example of modern day engineering careers.

8. What is the relationship between science and technology?

Both question how the universe works. Science asks "why" and technology asks "how".

9. How does technological design impact the world?

When you solve a problem, the solution changes the circumstances that led to the problem, which could create even more problems.

10. What is an ethical design dilemma?

Designers must follow a set code of ethics, since their designs have impacts on people, society, and the environment.