Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Blossoms: Using Geometry to Design Simple Machines
An MIT engineering professor offers a fun presentation on simple machines, specifically the geometry involved in building them. Students will learn about kinematics ("geometry in motion") and build their own simple machines with a...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Slide Right on by Using an Inclined Plane
Students explore building a pyramid, learning about the simple machine called an inclined plane. They also learn about another simple machine, the screw, and how it is used as a lifting or fastening device. During a hands-on activity,...
Technovation
Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Build a Wind Powered Turbine
On this site, there is a challenge for students to engineer a machine that converts wind power into mechanical energy. This site also includes a lesson plan, tips, and a place for students to document their engineering design process.
Technovation
Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Invent a Biobot
Make a robot that moves like a living creature using a microcontroller, motors, and mechanisms with this challenge. Also, on this challenge find a lesson plan, tips, and a place for students to document their engineering design process.
Technovation
Curiosity Machine: Challenges: Construct a Crane
Can you build a crane that uses simple machines and mechanical advantage to move heavy objects? This website contains a challenge, tips, a lesson plan, and a place for students to document their engineering design process.
Colorado State University
Colorado State Univ.: Heat Transfer Resistance Modeling
This site from the Colorado State University discusses the tranfer of heat by conduction and convection. Discussion centers around the application of these two heat transfer mechanisms to engines. The variables that effect the resistance...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Me*pro? App
This App has reference information for mechanical engineering students and professionals. The information is organized into sections titled Analysis, Equations, Polygons, and Reference.
History of Computing Science
History of Computing Science: The Difference Engine
The difference engine was never built, but its design was an important step in the history of computing devices. This lecture series presents a brief description of this early mechanical computing device.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Build Your Own Helio Tracker That Turns With the Sun
In this science fair project, design and build a mechanical sunflower device that faces the Sun as the sun moves through the sky. By harnessing solar energy, your sun tracker should follow the movement of the sun.
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of St. Andrews: Charles Augustin De Coulomb
A large complete authoritative biography of Coulomb. Five large pictures, over a dozen links to contemporaries, references, a poster, other mathematicians. A fine source.
NASA
Nasa: What Is Lift?
A description of how lift is a mechanical force that requires a fluid moving through a solid object and a change in velocity.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: James Joule
James Prescott Joule experimented with engines, electricity and heat throughout his life. Joule's findings resulted in his development of the mechanical theory of heat and Joule's law, which quantitatively describes the rate at which...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Supplemental Resources: Continuum Electromechanics
College-level electrical engineering and computer science textbook highlighting the applications of continuum electromechanics.
Colorado State University
Colorado State University: Writing @ Csu Writing Guides
This is a fairly sophisticated series of writing guides. It assumes that users already have a solid grasp of spelling, grammar and mechanics, so it focuses more on organization and types of presentation than on more basic skills....
Physics Games
Physics Games: Can You Even
"A game that combines spelling, riddles, and physics-based mechanics. Using the clues provided in each level, arrange the letters to spell out words and solve puzzles."
Science Struck
Science Struck: Piston Pump vs. Diaphragm Pump
Learn the difference between a piston pump and a diaphragm pump, both of which are positive displacement pumps. Includes chart listing characteristics for each, their different types, and their advantages and disadvantages.
Other
Xenophon Group: Medieval Mechanical Artillery
Contains relevant information regarding non-gunpowder weapons which were used during the Medieval period.
Other
Ductile Iron Society: Ductile Iron Data for Design Engineers
From the Ductile Iron Society web site. Data for the elasticity and strength of ductile iron are discussed. The effect of temperature upon yield strength, elongation (i.e., strain), and ultimate tensile strength are represented in...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Moving Water With the Archimedes Screw Pump
Amaze your friends and family by moving water with just a few turns of your wrist, this is known as an Archimedes screw. In this science project, you will build a very simple Archimedes screw, to transfer water from a low-lying location...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: There's a Machine in My Toy Box!
Simple machines are everywhere, even many of your toys are simple machines. Come visit this science fair project and explore the six types of simple machines. Find out how many are hiding under the hinged lid (yes, another simple...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Juice Box Geometry
Juice boxes are so convenient, just poke the straw in and sip away. It might surprise you how much thought goes into the design and manufacturing of a juice box. Each manufacturer has carefully calculated how big each side should be to...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Squishy Robot Simulator
Robots come in many shapes and sizes. Everything from the Mars Rover to a toy dinosaur is a well planned machine designed to suit its purpose. In this experiment you will test different robot designs with an online simulator.
![Tech Museum of Innovation: Rat Round Up [Pdf] Activity](http://content.lessonplanet.com/resources/thumbnails/410039/large/bwluav9tywdpy2symdiwmduymc0zndetb3hocxj0lmpwzw.jpg?1589984977 "Tech Museum of Innovation: Rat Round Up [Pdf] Activity")
Other
Tech Museum of Innovation: Rat Round Up [Pdf]
This resource explains how to design a device to capture and carry a runaway rat! Students will create a device that will return a rat to its cage without harming it using specific materials. The lesson includes worksheets and teacher...
Other
The Mathematical Association of America: Career Profiles
Offers dozens of essays written by people who use math in their careers, providing practical answers to the question: 'Why should I study math?'."