Thinking Like an Engineer

Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland

Copyright 2013 Pearson Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Conversions: Equations Thinking Like an Engineer 1
Conversions: Equations
Procedure for Equations
Convert into base SI units (5 steps)
Perform calculations using this procedure:






Convert to desired units (5 steps)
Conversions: Equations Thinking Like an Engineer 2
Method Steps


(1) Determine equation
(2) Insert known quantities
(3) Calculate, reasonable
Example Dimensions & Units e-10
You have been assigned the task of designing an
ellipsoid payload container for a space probe. The
long axis of the ellipsoid should be eight feet, and
the volume must be at least 4 cubic yards. What is
the diameter of the short axis of the payload
container in inches?

The volume of an ellipsoid is
where a is the diameter of the long axis and b is the
diameter of the short axis.
Conversions: Equations Thinking Like an Engineer 3
Photo compliments of S. Stephan

V =
1
6
a b
2
Example, continued Dimensions & Units e-10
Conversions: Equations 4
Method Steps
(1) Term to be converted
(2) Conversion formula
(3) Make a fraction



(4) Multiply



(5) Cancel, calculate, reasonable
1 m
3.28 ft
8 ft 1 m
3.28 ft
3 ft
1 yd
4yd
3
3 ft
1 yd

3
1 m
3.28 ft

3
8 feet [m] 4 yd
3
[m
3
]
1 m = 3.28 ft

1 yd = 3 ft
2.44 m

3.06 m
3
Example, continued Dimensions & Units e-10
Conversions: Equations Thinking Like an Engineer 5
Method Steps
(1) Determine equation



(2) Insert known quantities
(3) Calculate, reasonable
V
1
6
ab
2
b =
6 V
a
b
6 3.06m
3
( )
2.44m
( )
b = 1.55 m
Finally, convert to desired units.
Example, continued Dimensions & Units e-10
Conversion Procedures Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 6
Method Steps
(1) Term to be converted
(2) Conversion formulae
(3) Make fractions



(4) Multiply



(5) Cancel, calculate, reasonable
3.28 ft
1 m

12in
1 ft
1.55m 3.28 ft
1 m
12in
1 ft
1.55 m [in]
1 m = 3.28 ft 1 ft = 12 in

b = 61 in

Example Dimensions & Units e-11
Grammage is a term used in the paper industry to
indicate how much mass a given sheet of paper
has.
The units of grammage are typically given in g/m
2
.
Determine the weight in pounds force of a ream
(500 sheets) of standard 8.5 X 11 inch printer paper
if it has a grammage of 70 g/m
2
.

Conversions: Equations Thinking Like an Engineer 7
Example, continued Dimensions & Units e-11
Conversions: Equations 8
Method Steps
(1) Term to be converted
(2) Conversion formula
(3) Make a fraction



(4) Multiply



(5) Cancel, calculate,
reasonable
2.54 cm
1 in
8.5 in 2.54 cm
1 in
1 m
100 cm
1 m
100 cm
8.5 in [m] 11 in [m]
1 in = 2.54 cm

1 m = 100 cm
0.216 m

0.279 m
11 in 2.54 cm
1 in
1 m
100 cm
Example, continued Dimensions & Units e-11
Conversions: Equations Thinking Like an Engineer 9
Method Steps
(1) Determine equations
(2a) Insert known quantities
(3a) Calculate, reasonable
(2b) Insert known quantities
(3b) Calculate, reasonable
(2c) Insert known quantities
(3c) Calculate, reasonable
A = H L N M = A G W = M g
A = (0.279 m) (0.216 m) (500)
M = (30.1 m
2
) (70 g/m
2
)
A = 30.1 m
2
M = 2110 g = 2.11 kg
W = (2.11 kg) (9.8 m/s
2
)
W = 20.7 kg m/s
2
= 20.7 N

W = H L N G g
Example, continued Dimensions & Units e-11
Conversion Procedures Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 10
Method Steps
(1) Term to be converted
(2) Conversion formulae
(3) Make fractions



(4) Multiply



(5) Cancel, calculate, reasonable
0.225 lb
f
1 N
20.7 N 0.225 lb
f
1 N
20.7 N [lb
f
]
1 N = 0.225 lb
f
W = 4.7 lb
f
What is expected of you
Solve an equation for a desired
quantity using the 3-step procedure
Conversions: Equations Thinking Like an Engineer 11