Project Objective
Using the Engineering Design Process, create a device which converts chemical energy from one form to another. Our response to this task was to create a chemical heat source to power a mechanical device; in other words, we attempted a "flaming snowball" to power our Gamma Stirling Engine.
Presentation
Proof of Efficacy Document
Reflection
At the beginning of the project my teammates and I knew we could make this project as hard or as easy as we wanted to. After brainstorming and bouncing different ideas, we settled on ambition by trying to design a Stirling engine. This example brings two perspectives on our project. This shows that within a group of different ideas for an open-ended project, consensus was made through communication, by settling on an idea that may not be realistic, but pushes our capabilities; or that our ambition was an obstacle to proper team management, with respect to realistic goal-setting, our understanding that the focus of the project should be based more in chemistry than physics, and time management and job delegation should have been planned. By circumstance, our mismanagement forced our team members to not only take initiative in different aspects of the project, whether it be research, construction, testing, or presentation, but to also become flexible with our jobs, allowing everyone to experience all aspects of this project, switching roles whenever required. If some of our teammates were inexperienced with using tools, I would give them the opportunity to learn by having them construct, with some advice. Some limitations we encountered in this project was the availability of these tools, such as vices to shape our coat hanger-crankshaft. But arrangements were made to make sure this was done. Unfortunately the lack of planning would strike us, leading to the dysfunction of our machine. With some quick thinking, the feature of our presentation would be replaced with the gel we prepared, through some trial, research, and consultation, turning one failure into success by focusing on chemistry. Although internal communication and collaboration was great, time management and planning were lacking. Although we knew our initial goal would be hard to accomplish, we still were able to complete the project.
- Nihal Nazeem.
- Nihal Nazeem.