Persomal Statement Questions Flashcards
Why do you enjoy engineering
I’ve always enjoyed technical aspects and understanding why things work,and was the emphasis to why I panicked all sciences and maths at a level
- however after one year learnt that my passion lies with using maths to prove and explore physical ideas in our world
- what really fascinated me initially was that’s like projectile motion, although simple through we could use physics and maths to find out real things of our world.
- the more we model was better
- learning more drew to me to the icnlsuijnthst I had to study enginerring, it’s not that I don’t like physics and maths alone, but the application of both so that we can study real world and act on it is what drew me
2) also that everyhting around us was unitedly just sn engineers thinking , and that it’s a way of life. From the smallest things , to the biggest, having thst knowledge alone is not enough - need to be able to apply it and this is a skill that can be transferbsle to any form of life
What are the things about origami need to consider
So many things in origami to take heed of
- designing focal points on a 2D plane before 3d first
- take into condensation sxponential thickness
- appreciating mechanism of folds
Can you make some right now
Take me through design process for origami midel
- decide the plane
-analyse final model and identify focal points - ensuring symmetry is maintained in simplest way
- spatially portions of the paper with proportional if comments
Very complex
Explain the application part : why not just physics and maths
What are the principles of enginerring
Remind yourself of end product
- how to achieve it considering what we know,
- balancing cost with function
- considering scaling it up
- innovating and applying new principles
- don’t be afraid of something that isn’t possible = not possible yet
- understand a knowledge of our resources, limits etc
History of the can + what happened now?
What was the failure constsnt of the can and what do you mean by designing to work as part of a greater function
Engineering through failure
1) first had to design material, went from steel to aluminium finally,
2) then self opening concept, didn’t want church keys
3) failure, tab proved difficult. Switch back to steel
4) a lot of failures before removable tab (double button method, kinda annoying, similar to skyscrape)
5) huge failure when they thought solution made, enbionkentslly crazy
6) finally attached one was created and put back ti aluminium with diameter adjustments
Through failure could engineers finally crates this, a side of engineering we never thought
Shows how they must integrate function with cost to whole thing .
Anything else interesting about the book?
Hook I’m general goes through examples on differnt systems of enginerring to get to desired result = very insightful
For example through design, analysis , development, networking etc
Another example
What was BPHO challenge about
Intention?
A problem about analysing the atmosphere I’m general, with intention to show that if we can analyse basicslly the length of the ISA model, it gives us a flavour of how engineers might do such with recorded variables to see weather patterns and danger to our climate as a whole
How did you go about it ( application kf teamwork, learning new branches of physics combining different aspects, he,l from teachers, )
Undertook in engineering development trust project which achieved gold in, where we parent enter with BP company and mentors to help us. They gave us a task to reduce the carbon footprint in our area on a local scale and we chose road and traffic infrastructure
Got to see firsthand what Woking in a team is like
We split our roles based on strengths and all undertook an area that we’re interested don, I focussed on one way roads and effect on fuel type but speed bumps too road material to roundabouts everything was considered .
For one way roads I studied a Microsoft traffic simulation model vision and used the data from it to provide conclusions over the effect, whilst also leaning about all other types of effects in one way roads
Much thought has to go into this, an interesting application I found. Was how one way roads can put off businesses and also add to the crime of the area in case studies in America- as they area tend to beocme abandaoned as sidewalks could be abolished to create it rtc
Looking further into the industry if Bp I made surprising evaluations over climate engineering schemes for which o was specifically accredited for, the Volkswagen scandal Ea done where the company had to pay excess of billions in fines after being caught using methods fo avoid tailpipe emissions, which could be detected when used and changed the perfamcne for he car
For me this highlighted the power an engineer can hold- not only can they create methods that can save the world and offer positive to our life but they can also severely reduce it for quick money. It is my hope that as an engineer I can use my abilities for good
What you learn about modelling
What were conclusions the bpho you mention
What did you see at cern , explain this higgs boson thing
Cern the birthplace of internet, toured as around the data centre, and we learnt that the discovery of the Higgs boson was limited by the processing power and storage facility at cern, and yeah it would’ve taken hundred of years.
This struck me how engineering from all different branches go hand in hand, not just pure physics, but design through to chemical through To data and IT
- it’s one of the most beautiful things I find about enginerring, it’s a collection of different specialties that work together to arrive at once solution, I also saw this through EDT
Anything else intriguing you saw at cern?
Problem
IMPORTSNT LEARN THIS KNE IF SNYTHING
walked through anti proton generator, learnt stories about how it is too expensive etc, used in many experiments
Just marvelled at the ultimate engineering project known to mankind with the simple aim of developing our undedtsnaing , spanning almost a century now.
What was cool was the Problem of firing two protons at each other which was as hard as firing two needles across Atlantic Ocean and getting them to meet
Then this was solved by using superconducting properly kf materials thst if they are cooled down close to absolute zero, they experience virtue,y defo residtamce and thus huge charges can be transferred creating insane MAGENTIC fields which allowed it to happen
What kinda qs in professor poverty
Explain thr paper blowing causing ti to tide (Bernoulli principle)
Wing and aircraft?
Explored lift
Blowing on tip think it will go down
Basically when fast moving air or fluid , the pressure is lower there , and so as higher pressure underneath , causes it to lift
Or two sheets of paper blowing through it will cause them to stick as low pressure pushes from outside
2) a wing is shaped so that air moves FASTWE on top generating low pressure, and slower underneath so high pressure, causing a resultant force over an area on top generating lift.
However I undedstsnf that these ideas alone cannot explain lift
3) hairdryer
- fast air makes low pressure zone that ball can’t escape from ,
Explain what happened with the Tacoma narrows bridge (history)
Engineers failed to take into consideration the wind
In attempt to make bridges cheaper etc, suspension bridge was developed - can span only using two towers reduces cost and is more economic
But also reduces rigidity and structure , now wind needs to be taken in to account
Washington = same reason why suspension was used
Named galloping buddy , and 4 months later collapsed, with iconic video of bridge swirling
How has your business increases skills and made you a better person all together
How have you used enginerring here to scale up screes, (include scaling with friends, new avenues )
What’s your favourite number
More on cern and bpho
Anything extra since then you’ve done?
Such as edt
Why like Cambridge
Why like Cambridge teaching
Problem behind origami
Problem is that to get to any one model in one piece of prefersbley square paper
Laws
1) maekawa theroem
2: Kawasaki theroem
3) a sheet can never prentrwte a fold
Maekawas theroem
At any vertex number of valley and mountain folds differ by two = means total number of folds at each vertex is an even number
- this means it is possible to colour regions with two colours such thst each crease separated by folds
Kawasaki theroem
Any vertex , the sum of all the odd angles adds up to 180 degrees, as do the even
This is more rigid condition, not just mountain and valley folds
How does this go on with computational origami
Computational origami
Studying algorithms has allowed developers to make software that can generate how to create certain number of seams in a place
- but a lot of it is still down to you analysing the plane identifying focal points keeping them away, using the space etc
More maths with origami (haga theroem)
One very niche section is how to make a shape regular using square piece of paper
A lot of maths had gone in to determine the rules for what n sided polygon you can make, has to be. A porudcet of distinct primes etc
Task one boho
What was it
What assumptions
Task 1
= plot the ISA model
- involved TEMPERTAURE vs altodue, where we had to generate values for TEMPERTAURE using a formula,
- involved making assumptions using ideal gases etc and using adiabatic lapse rate, constant grav strength
What is adiabatic lapse rate
Adiabatic ?
This is just the rate at whauhf the atmospheric TEMPERTAURE decrease with altitude due to change in condtions above,
Often we had to section parts of the atmospheric, such as troposphere stratopause, mesosphere etc using lapse rates that were constant
2) this assumes that no heat is exchange occurs between section of air and the rest of the surroundings, which was an assumption we had to make otherwise the lapse rate wouldn’t be able to be modelled as constsnt throughout
Again what is adiabatic lapse rate
Lapse rate is the rate at which TEMPERTAURE increases with altodue and adiabatic is it occurring within an air parcel assuming no heat is transferred from this to the surroundings
This means DRY AIR too, and these assumptions were need3 so we can model later on
Task 2 bpho
Plotting atmospheric pressure vs altodue for dry air (adiabatic )
Here we derived a whole new equation for pressure
- started with basic equations for change of pressure, and idea, gas
- with the help of the organisers and teachers who used first order differnt will eqautuins, they generated an expression relating pressure to altitiude assuming those things before
Saw Boltzmann deform too
A lot of algebra here took place beyond what I could do, but opened eyes to the power of modelling. Using basic ideas and good assumptions we generated accurate values for temperature and pressure values for the length of the ISA
Limitations of the model?
Simply that earth isn’t modelled as an elipsoid which we could’ve done with more kneoldge , + take into account topographic variations like mountains etc r
Task 3 bpho
Made it more realistic, modelled pressure changes with water vapour too
This meant modelling using humidity , partial pressures, relative humidity, saturation measure, etc
Modelled this using iterative soltuijn, to generate values for different altitude of pressure, and seeing if our growth matched the actual
Used power of modelling to generate 8000 unique data entries to plot
If we had time would’ve plotted wgwinst dew points (which temp at which air must be cooled wt to gpcondense ), boiling point decreasinf etc
Overall learnt from bpho?
Moeddlign using numerical iterative and physical ideas allow to make accurate predictions and condtions kf aress around the earth.
Insight to what engineers do to test value for testing products in the air for example
Also using complex mathematical approaches we could use ideas we already knew to investigate these
Necessary for anything in the air, aero orbit,s rockets stalemates etc , good experience !
Cool stuff about Concorde?
Cool to learn
-how the fuel is actually dynamically moved around ti adjust centr of mass when taking off and landing
Why does air move faster above wing anyways
Because external atmospheric pressure is lower in that area, so air moves faster here, this is common misconception that air must meet each other at a constant completely wrimg
Pressure difference lower above the due ti coanada effect etc
Why is lift not only explained by Bernoulli
(What makes airplane fly, Bernoulli or newton)
Essentially
- wing at an angle of attack from air
- air will go up and below the wing, and go faster at top, so lower pressure compared to underneath
This causes a force upwards which is BERNOULLI EFFECT
(Don’t lack to why air is slower)
HOWEVER THAT ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH
- newtons 3rd law, and 2nd law in play, where accelrwtion and resultant force is in play too, can’t fully explain
How was this prevented in the future
Cool because wind tune,king of every bridge was needed now
Next bridge that replaced used trusses openings so pressure could equalise
Actually very IMPORTSNT for development of civil enginerring
Tacoma narrows summary?
Again another example of engineering by failure, which I believed is the story if humanit
Why Tacoma collapsed (aeroelastic flutter caused by vortex shedding and Bernoulli)
A,so resonance
Due to the narrow roads it was already subject to flexibility .
- cheaper option of H shape girders were used snd this allowed flow separating , in the form of vortex shedding (generates fortified).
- this created areas of fast and low moving winds and pressure differences, causing the bridge to socialite in x direction, and then was carried on by monetum and weight (almost like simple harmonic motion)
- this caused it to collapse
However initially would oscisllte vertically due ti resonance , this gave baloppoing Gertie but was not sole reason
Graphs like bojo
Temperate vs alto fur send down up down again and then remained down as lapse rates changed
Pressure vs altitude decreased maybe exponential rate
Pressure using humidity changed less sharp and was studied at lower atmospher levels , as the effect more profound here
