Online courses directory (81)

This course will ask you to apply the knowledge you have acquired over the course of the entire mechanical engineering curriculum.  It draws upon what you have learned in your courses in mechanics, CAD, materials and processing, thermal and fluid systems, and dynamics and control, just to name a few.  This course is equivalent to the capstone course or senior design project that you would need to complete as a senior in a mechanical engineering program in a traditional American university setting. This course begins in Unit 1 by introducing you to the stages of the design process.  We will then focus on tools and skill sets that are particularly important for succeeding in a design project, including design planning, teamwork skills, project management, and design reporting. Unit 2 covers important design principles and considerations.  You will learn about economic implications (you must keep cost in mind while designing!), the ethical, societal, and environmental impacts of design decisions, and pro…

This course will survey physics concepts and their respective applications.  It is intended as a basic introduction to the current physical understanding of our universe.  Originally part of “Natural Philosophy,” the first scientific studies were conducted after Thales of Miletus established a rational basis for the understanding of natural phenomena circa 600 BCE.  One of the Seven Sages of Greek philosophy, Thales sought to identify the substances that make up the natural world and explain how they produce the physical phenomena we observe.  Prior to Thales, humans had explained events by attributing supernatural causes to them; his work represents the very beginning of scientific analysis. The Scientific Method used today builds on this early foundation, but adds the essential underpinnings of evidence based on experiments or observation.  Briefly, the modern scientific method involves forming a hypothesis about the cause of a general phenomenon, using that hypothetical model to predict the outc…

Build your earth science vocabulary and learn about cycles of matter and types of sedimentary rocks through the Education Portal course Earth Science 101: Earth Science. Our series of video lessons and accompanying self-assessment quizzes can help you boost your scientific knowledge ahead of the Excelsior Earth Science exam . This course was designed by experienced educators and examines both science basics, like experimental design and systems of measurement, and more advanced topics, such as analysis of rock deformation and theories of continental drift.

The study of dynamic systems focuses on the behavior of physical systems as well as the physics of individual components and the interactions between them.  Control systems are designed to enable dynamic systems to respond in a specific manner.  In this course, we will learn about the mathematical modeling, analysis, and control of physical systems that are in rest, in motion, or acted upon by a force. Dynamic systems can be mechanical, electrical, thermal, hydraulic, pneumatic, or any combination thereof.  An electrical motor is a good example of a dynamic system in which electricity is used to drive the motor’s mechanical movement.  The operation of the motor is controlled by altering the electric current or voltage.  Another good example is a car’s suspension system, which is designed to curb abnormal vibrations while riding on a bumpy road.  In order to design a suspension system, you must analyze the mathematical equations of the physics of the suspension and its response (i.e. how effectivel…

Zinc Copper cell (reduction-oxidation). How to Measure?. Battery Meter (Galvanometer). How Many Turns?. Electrolyte Test (pure water vs. vinegar). Reverse Electrodes (polarity). Electrolyte (strong acid test). Electrolyte (salt test). Electrode (distance test). Electrolyte (temperature test). Electrode (surface area test). Standard Cell. How much electrolyte does a single cell need?. What's Next?.

Discovery of Electromagnetism. Experiment: Electromangetism. Electromagnetic Field (above vs. below). Electromagnetic Field (forward vs. reverse). Electromagnetic Field (loop). Right-Hand Rule. Battery Meter (Galvanometer).

Magnet near Compass. Tracing a Magnetic Field. Tracing a magnetic field. Discovery of Magnetic Fields. Magnet and iron filings. Magnetic field. 3D magnet with field. Magnetic Permeability. Increase Strength of Magnet. What's Next?.

Discovery of Magnetism. Compass: which way is north?. Floating Magnet. Compass Build (stroke direction). Compass Build (magnet orientation). Neutralize a Compass. Compass Interactions. Magnetising materials. What's Next?.

Series Load. Pencil Resistor. Variable Resistor (Pencil). Listen to Variable Resistance. What's Next?.

Spinning Compass. Build your own motor. What's Next.

Electromagnet (construction tip). Electromagnet (penny powered). Understanding Force.

Discovery of Triboelectric effect. Pith Ball Electroscope. Foil Leaf Electroscope. What's Next?.

Are 2 magnets stronger than 1?. Measure the Earth!. Earth's Magnetic Field (how to measure). Force over Distance. Inverse Cube Law (deflection method). Inverse Square Relationship. Inverse Cube Law (Method of Oscillation).

This course will introduce you to the field of mechanical engineering and the relationships between physics, mathematics, communications, and sciences which inform the study, design, and manufacture of mechanical products and systems.  The course is divided into four units.  In the first unit, you will learn how mechanical engineering is broadly defined, what mechanical engineers do, and what technical capabilities they have.  We will also review some basic principles from mathematics and physics that you will apply in any discipline of engineering.  In the second unit, you will learn about the ethical considerations and technical communication skills necessary for engineering work.  You will revisit these issues in more detail in several courses within the Mechanical Engineering curriculum.  The third unit focuses on computational tools for engineering problems.  In Unit 3 you will learn about a specific open source computational environment (Scilab) and the application of that environment to some com…

CAD, or computer-aided design, is a powerful modeling tool that technical professionals use.  With CAD, architects can draw up building plans and engineers can develop component and system designs.  Some CAD programs even allow users to perform stress analysis, demonstrating how well a proposed structure will fare when put to use.  For example, when does a load become too big?  How much weight can be put onto a bridge before it becomes structurally unsound?  Using CAD, professionals can create precise engineering drawings in both 2- and 3-D, complete with dimensions and specifications, in a neat and readable format.  This modeling method has taken design to a whole new level of efficiency and accuracy. We are fortunate to be engineers working in the current eraone of computers, technology, and ease of precision.  Without CAD, we would have to draft (or draw up) design blueprints by hand, which can be tedious and time-consuming.  With CAD, however, we can generate accurate 2-D and 3-D drawings, scale…

Get a sense of the universe's enormity and discover the infinitesimal portion of history occupied by human existence with this astronomy course. Instructors show you how scientists go about studying such a vast expanse of time and space by explaining topics like wave-particle duality and spectra sequence. They can also help you take on an in-depth examination of astronomical objects that include protostellar disks, black holes, neutron stars, the Jovian planets and more with lessons on the following topics:

Here is your chance to change the course of history! In this eight-week experience, you will begin developing profitable social and technological innovations to tackle our pressing energy and climate obligations. Course content includes videos and short readings carefully selected and organized to be accessible to a wide audience regardless of nationality, educational background, professional interests, or academic focus. All of the assigned work in this course is designed to help you dream up and begin developing your own sustainable energy innovation. Your innovation may be a physical product, or a service. It may be a technical innovation, or a social one. It need not make you rich, but you will be challenged to at least make your project self-supporting. The course materials, my feedback, and, most importantly, interactions with your classmates, will all help as you try to make your ideas real. You can complete the coursework in two to four hours per week, and any additional time you spend will just improve the chances your project is successful. Students should have completed the Intro to Sustainable Energy course on Canvas Network, or something similar, prior to taking this course. The "Introduction" course is publicly viewable with a CC Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license.

In this six-week course, you will learn the basics about our energy and climate obligations. You will also prepare yourself to continue learning as these issues evolve. You will evaluate demand-side (e.g. more efficient buildings and automobiles) and supply-side (e.g. solar and wind) strategies for more sustainable use of energy. The course will require fact-based analysis of our energy obligations and possible ways to meet them. Please also consider enrolling in Sustainable Energy Innovation which begins June 2.

The Big Bang theory has revolutionized our understanding of how the Universe was formed. It presents the scientific proof that shows how the Universe expanded from an infinitely small point around 13.7 billion years ago. In this free online course the learner will discover how scientists calculated when the Big Bang happened and how the Universe expanded after the Big Bang. The formation of the first atoms is discussed and how they are responsible for the cosmic background radiation that is found throughout the Universe. This free online course will be of great interest to students of astronomy and physics and to all learners who would like to learn more about the Big Bang theory and what it has to say about the formation of the Universe. <br />