You and your classmates are biomedical engineers assigned to develop a new equestrian saddle for a paraplegic rider. Without the use of their legs, how does the rider balance on top of the horse?

In this activity, you will build a model of a human arm and shoulder. The model will demonstrate that these body parts act like different types of mechanical joints and that muscles "pull" but do not "push". You will also examine the range of motion of your knee, elbow and wrist.

You and your classmates are sports engineers assigned to develop a new triathlete shoe. Current concerns with existing equipment include a) speed of foot entry into the shoe b) ease of lacing the shoe. There is also a question regarding durability. Does a running shoe for a triathlete need to be durable? You and your team will consider several elements of engineering design to develop concepts for a new shoe.

Chromatography is used by crime laboratories to identify clues such as blood, ink, or other substances found at a crime scene. Chromatograms of these clues are compared against chromatograms of known substances for identification. In this experiment you get to be the detective! Can you identify the 12 color colored markers?

Chromatography is a technique used to separate mixtures. In this activity you will create your own colorful T-shirt design while learning about chromatography. You will separate the ink from permanent colored markers to make a rainbow of colors on your T-shirt!

Matter exists in three states: solid, liquid, and gas, but sometimes a substance does not seem to fit in any of these categories. Is clay or putty a solid or a liquid? Clay and putty are colloids. Colloids are mixtures of a substance suspended in another substance. In this fun activity, you will make putty and investigate its behavior!

When exposed to moist air different metals may lose their shine and become dull or start to corrode. In this experiment you'll learn to identify different metals and types of corrosion and restore a metal's bright shiny finish.

When you make these chocolate no-bake cookies you also will learn how asphalt is made and used in paving roads. There is a terrific gallery of photos with this lesson.

In this lesson your team will build the strongest of all the bridge structures - the suspension bridge. There is a gallery of bridge photos with this lesson.

Bridges are structures which carry people and vehicles across natural or man-made obstacles. There are many types of bridges. In this lesson you will learn to recognize different types of bridges, design and construct a model.

Can you support the weight of a book on top of a flimsy piece of paper? In this activity you will work in a team and build a portable structure out of paper and tape that will support the weight of a book. You will learn that you can create new objects from everyday ordinary materials.

Learn about deceleration devices like parachutes and parafoils. Build a parachute and parafoil and learn about the differences. Experiment with different sizes and weights. Learn about engineering diagrams and flat patterns. There is a fun quiz to check your knowledge!.

Build a simple wind tunnel and test out 2 glider wing shapes at different angles of attack. You will record your observations and results just as engineers do. There also is a "virtual wind tunnel" you can try and see how the aerodynamics changes with wing shape and angle of attack.

Learn about the aerodynamics of cycling and how engineers reduce drag on cycles and helmets to increase performance and speed. You will work in teams, design and modify the shape of your team's cycling helmet to make it more aerodynamic. Then you will conduct a test to determine if you have reduced the drag.

Aerodynamics affects sports balls and projectiles, like the javelin and boomerang. Unlike its historical predecessor, the killer-stick, a boomerang returns to its thrower due to its aerodynamic shape. In this activity you will shape and balance your own boomerang and learn about the aerodynamics of boomerangs.

Thrust and drag are two of the basic principles of aerodynamics, the study of how air and other gases move. In this hands-on activity, students will launch a variety of balloon rockets to demonstrate these principles.

Studying air and water pressure with these activities are fun ways to learn about basic fluid dynamics, a key concept in Mechanical and Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering!

Using a ball's flight path learn about velocity and acceleration.

Capture the motion of a tennis player's serve and analyze the moton of three different tennis strokes.

Learn how a fax machine works. A "bingo" type game is played where students simulate the work of a fax machine to create a picture.

Want to be "enLIGHTened" about electricity? In this activity you'll construct a simple electrical circuit. You'll make a buzzer ring and a bulb light up.

Magnets attract iron and certain other metals. In this activity you will conduct three demonstratons: magnetize paper clips; attract paper clips through a cup of water; and move paper clips through a maze without touching the clips!

What do snowflakes, rock candy and quartz have in common? All of these are crystals! In this activity you will make an edible crystal and examine its beautiful structure with a magnifying glass! Note: This activity requires adult supervision.

Paper is made from cellulose (fibers from trees). These fibers come from chopped down trees. The trees are ground and mixed with a chemical that dissolves all the tree material EXCEPT the cellulose fibers. In this activity you will work in a team and make paper by recycling the fibers from used paper. This is a messy operation - but fun!

Have you ever wondered why a hot air or helium balloon rises into the sky and floats through the air? Submarines can move on the water's surface or travel underneath the surface completely submerged. In this lesson, you will use full soda cans and discover how to make the soda cans float or submerge like a submarine!

Cars, airplanes, bicycles and other machines all have moving parts that rub against each other. These parts will wear out, heat up, and fail to work without the aid of lubricants to reduce the friction between surfaces. Learn about friction and lubrication in this fun (and slippery) demonstration!

Learn about simple pulley systems and how to tell the difference between a simple system and a complex pulley system. Using pulleys and weights that can be purchased at local stores, build simple pulley systems to demonstrate the mechanical advantages of pulleys. Check your knowledge by calculating the force of different pulley systems - can you make the pulley move?

Learn about the basic types of pumps and how they work in terms of pressure, velocity, and elevation differences. Build a gravity-driven water pump to perform a simple action. Using an interactive activity "solve a mystery" using your knowledge of pressures and pumps.

Using a Lego^TM kit you will build and learn how to program a robot.

Using a Lego^TM kit students build simple gear trains and learn about gear ratios and torque.

Do you know how to tell a hardboiled from a raw egg without cracking it open? This experiment will teach you how. You also will learn that inertia is the science principle behind why we wear seat belts.

Thermodynamics is the study of energy and how it transforms things. Students are introduced to basic thermodynamics in Mechanical Engineering through a discussion of phases and a hands-on activity.

Is it easier to push a heavy box across a thick carpet or a slick patch of ice? It is easier to push it over the ice. Why? There is less friction between the ice and the box than there is between the thick carpet and the box. Friction can make objects hard to push. Two demonstrations illustrating these principles are presented.

Music is produced through sound waves. Different types of musical instruments control sound waves in different ways to produce the patterns of sound we call music. In this activity you will construct a flute out of straws and learn how to adjust the sound. Can you play a simple tune on your flute?

The science of sound is called acoustics from the Greek word for hearing. Sound and light are both forms of waves. Why can you hear many sounds made close to you, but not sounds far away? In this activity, you will conduct a simple demonstration with a ticking watch and a cardboard tube.

Simple machines are all around us and help us accomplish work faster and easier many times each day. In this demonstration you will use an inclined plane to move a heavy load. Examples of inclined planes include: ramps for wheelchairs, car ramps in parking structures, a playground slide and boat ramps.

Simple machines are all around us and help us accomplish work faster and easier many times each day. In this demonstration you will use an lever and fulcrum to move an object. Examples of levers planes include: see-saws (teeter-totters), a claw hammer, a crow bar, bottle opener, car jacks and piano keys.

Simple machines are all around us and help us accomplish work faster and easier many times each day. In this demonstration you will use a rotating wheel to move a heavy load. Examples of mechanisms which incorporate rotating wheels include: automobiles, bicycles, skate boards, skates and moving dolleys.

Learn the differences between aircraft and spacecraft and in particular the differences in propulsion systems. Demonstrate the differences by building pinwheel airplanes and balloon rockets. Take an interactive activity quiz on thrust. Can you make the rocket go to the Moon?

Learn about gravity and acceleration on earth and on other planetary objects in space. Solve an engineering problem by designing and/or building one of three engineering problems dealing with living and working in space. An interactive activity teaches you about the force of gravity on other planets in the solar system. There is also a fun quiz.

In this activity you will record and analyse your calorie intake and physical activity for a 24-hour period.

In this activity you will take your own pulse or use a heart rate monitor while you complete a swimming and running test. You will collect your personal data, make some calculations and plot your data. You will use this data in the final activity Training for Three: Triathlon to determine your potential in the different triathlon sports (swimming, cycling and running). (Are you better at one of these sports?)

In this activity you will take your own pulse or use a heart rate monitor while you complete a cycle ergometer test. You will collect your personal data, make some calculations and plot your data. You will use this data and the data that you collected in the Monitoring Energy Expenditure to determine your potential in the different triathlon sports (swimming, cycling and running). (Are you better at one of these sports?)