This first course in Linear Algebra will introduce students to key concepts of the field, including but not limited to vectors, vector norms and inner products, matrices, matrix-vector and matrix-matrix multiplication, matrix inverses, solving systems of linear equations, vector spaces, orthogonality, least-squares, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, singular value decompositions, and principal component analysis. These theoretical tools will be grounded in exciting problems from the sciences, engineering, machine learning, data science, logistics, and economics. Through application-based case studies, you will be shown how to model problems using linear algebra and how to solve the resulting problem using standard Python scientific computing modules. Enrollment in this course assumes students have comfort with programming at the level of CIS 1100 (Python).
This course introduces students to basic concepts of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer, with emphasis on applications. The course will focus on first law of thermodynamics, mass and momentum conservation for both closed and open systems. Students will be exposed to the different modes of heat transfer (conduction, convection, and radiation) with attention to conduction and convection applications to heat engines and devices. Hydrostatics, including pressure distribution and forces acting on submerged surfaces, and buoyancy effects will be discussed as how they are related to hydraulic applications. Fluid dynamics will cover inviscid flows, Bernoulli equation, and concepts of lift, drag, and thrust, and how these are related to aerodynamical systems including wind turbines. Introduction to internal flows, head loss in pipes, friction factors, and Moody chart.
This course is primarily intended for students in mechanical engineering, but may also be of interest to students in materials science and other fields. It continues the treatment of statics of rigid bodies begun in MEAM 1100/PHYS 0150 and progresses to the treatment of deformable bodies and their response to loads. The concepts of stress, strain, and linearly elastic response are introduced and applied to the behavior of rods, shafts, beams and other mechanical components. The failure and design of mechanical components are discussed. Students should have either taken MATH 2400 in a previous semester or be taking it concurrently with this course.
This is the first of a two semester sophomore level laboratory sequence that students complete over the fall and spring semesters. The course teaches the principles of experimentation and measurement as well as analysis and application to design. This fall semester course follows closely with MEAM 2020 and MEAM 2100, involving experiments to explore the principles of statics and strength of materials and thermo-fluids and energy. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing in engineering
Algorithms and Artificial Intelligence have become ubiquitous in the 21st century. From the movies recommended by Netflix to the advertisements presented on social media and the routes suggested by Google Maps, AI and algorithms can make our lives more convenient. But what about AI that that can earn a B+ on an MBA exam without studying, phones that unlock with facial recognition that doesn’t work smoothly on all skin colors, or autonomous weaponized drones that mistake civilians for targets? As algorithms play an increasing role in various aspects of modern society, addressing their ethical considerations becomes increasingly crucial to ensure their responsible and beneficial use. This course explores the ethical dimensions and implications inherent in algorithms and their associated technologies in a wide variety of contexts. Topics will range from the intricacies of privacy invasion and the mitigation of bias to the establishment of accountability in the use of algorithms in fields such as education, healthcare, finance, criminal justice, employment, environmental issues, urban planning, and weapons of war. We will critically analyze academic research, policy debates, and case studies to develop a nuanced understanding of the ethical considerations surrounding algorithms. Students will engage with cutting-edge scholarship and contribute to ongoing discussions on algorithmic ethics. As part of the course, students will interact with AI and report on their findings.
This course introduces the basic concepts in kinematics and dynamics that are necessary to understand, analyze and design mechanisms and machines. These concepts are also fundamental to the modeling and analysis of human movement, biomechanics, animation of synthetic human models and robotics. The topics covered include: Particle dynamics using energy and momentum methods of analysis; Dynamics of systems of particles; Impact; Systems of variable mass; Kinematics and dynamics of rigid bodies in plane motion; Computer-aided dynamic simulation and animation.
Thermodynamics studies the fundamental concepts related to energy conversion in such mechanical systems as internal and external combustion engines (including automobile and aircraft engines), compressors, pumps, refrigerators, and turbines. This course is intended for students in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, physics and other fields. The topics include properties of pure substances, firs-law analysis of closed systems and control volumes, reversibility and irreversibility, entropy, second-law analysis, exergy, power and refrigeration cycles, and their engineering applications.
This course introduces students to physical models and mathematical methods that are widely encountered in various branches of engineering. Illustrative examples are used to motivate mathematical topics including ordinary and partial differential equations, Fourier analysis, eigenvalue problems, and stability analysis. Analytical techniques that yield exact solutions to problems are developed when possible, but in many cases, numerical calculations are employed using programs such as Matlab and Maple. Students will learn the importance of mathematics in engineering.
This is the second of a two-semester sophomore level laboratory sequence that students complete over the fall and spring semesters. The course teaches the principles of experimentation and measurement as well as analysis and application to design. The spring semester course follows closely with MEAM 2030 and MEAM 2110, expanding upon the principles of experimentation, measurement, analysis, and design of systems through hands-on laboratories and projects in thermodynamics and dynamics.
In this course, students will study the social, political, environmental and economic context of engineering practice. Students will develop an analytical toolkit to identify and address ethical challenges and opportunities in the engineering profession, including studies of risk and safety, professional responsibility, and global perspectives. The course will begin with a foundation in the history of engineering practice and major Western ethical and philosophical theories. Students will then apply this material to both historical case studies, such as Bhopal, the NASA Shuttle Program, and Three Mile Island, as well as contemporary issues in big data, artificial intelligence, and diversity within the profession. Students will consider how engineers, as well as governments, the media, and other stakeholders, address such issues.