Mechanical Engineering
Since mechanical engineering isn't taught in high school, young students don't know much about it. Can you describe mechanical engineering?
Mechanical engineering is by far the most broad-based branch of engineering. Most high school students associate the field with auto mechanics, but that’s an enormous misconception. Mechanical engineers today are concerned with the design, development and manufacture of a variety of energy conversion and machine systems. Those systems include aerospace, automotive, marine, manufacturing, biomechanics, power generation, heating ventilation, air conditioning and robotics. They also work in emerging industries such as nanotechnology and particle technology. Mechanical engineers work with conventional fuel sources but they are increasingly developing alternative fuel sources such as geothermal, wind, tide, solar and hydroelectric energy.
What kind of high school students should major in mechanical engineering?
Any high school student with an aptitude for mathematics and physics has the basic foundations to be a successful mechanical engineering major. If the student is creative, with a natural curiosity about how things work, coupled with a desire to build tangible devices, mechanical engineering could be in his or her future.
Do mechanical engineering majors at NJIT work on hands-on projects?
The Mechanical Engineering department here prides itself on the various hands-on projects that our students work on. Such projects force students to use the principles they learn in the classroom, but they must take that theory and develop a tangible product. Using devices or products that they fabricate in their capstone design courses, our students enter a wide range of national design contests sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Automotive Engineers. Those contests include a Mini-Baja (an all-terrain vehicle) contest; an Indy Car (a Formula speed car) contest; and an Aero-Design (a
Mechanical engineering is by far the most broad-based branch of engineering. Most high school students associate the field with auto mechanics, but that’s an enormous misconception. Mechanical engineers today are concerned with the design, development and manufacture of a variety of energy conversion and machine systems. Those systems include aerospace, automotive, marine, manufacturing, biomechanics, power generation, heating ventilation, air conditioning and robotics. They also work in emerging industries such as nanotechnology and particle technology. Mechanical engineers work with conventional fuel sources but they are increasingly developing alternative fuel sources such as geothermal, wind, tide, solar and hydroelectric energy.
What kind of high school students should major in mechanical engineering?
Any high school student with an aptitude for mathematics and physics has the basic foundations to be a successful mechanical engineering major. If the student is creative, with a natural curiosity about how things work, coupled with a desire to build tangible devices, mechanical engineering could be in his or her future.
Do mechanical engineering majors at NJIT work on hands-on projects?
The Mechanical Engineering department here prides itself on the various hands-on projects that our students work on. Such projects force students to use the principles they learn in the classroom, but they must take that theory and develop a tangible product. Using devices or products that they fabricate in their capstone design courses, our students enter a wide range of national design contests sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Automotive Engineers. Those contests include a Mini-Baja (an all-terrain vehicle) contest; an Indy Car (a Formula speed car) contest; and an Aero-Design (a