physical and electrical engineering. what is a good thing to start with?
i am thinking about getting into amateur physical and electrical engineering. is there anything i can build, read, see or explore that would either spark an idea or get me some experience? (robotics,
model-making, circuit boards) or even kits that you could suggest, involving that sort of thing. thanks
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Oct 1, 2009. 9:12 PMframistan
says:
If you get into electronics, I suggest you don't get into the HIGH TECHNOLOGY stuff. As you get OLDER, it will become increasingly difficult to keep up with all the changes and increasing complexity. Also, you will be competing with everyone else who is in the HIGH technology field... instead of that, consider getting into electrical power generation. Solar electricity... wind power... etc.. because no matter HOW complex things get, they will always need reliable power to run it. The work is less glamorous, but more stable, less likely to get laid off or you becoming obsolete.
May 22, 2009. 2:32 PMdrbill
says:
For the electrical part you might try Amateur Radio. No more Morse code needed and you can work 10 meters all the way up into the microwave range. There is another communication mode using LASER 2 way communications that no license is needed. arrl.com is a good place to start with this and they can tell you where you can join a club, how to get licensed, and the club will have (no doubt) some people willing to Elmer you. An Elmer is Hamspeak for teacher.
Apr 23, 2009. 8:13 AMwingman358
says:
Follow your heart! Do what you like and and pursue your dreams. Do you like learning about the brain? Maybe neuroscience is for you. Do you like taking things apart and making them better? That might be mechanical engineering. Do you want to know everything about circuits and how to make them better? Electrical engineering might be better. The key is to do what you enjoy (why do anything else?) and keep an open mind. I recommend community college - it's cheap, the quality of education is high, and you can take as many, or as few courses as you want. You don't even have to have a high school diploma to take classes at community college! I started taking summer classes at a community college when I was in my junior year of high school. I think you would really benefit from talking to an adviser at a community college, even if you don't plan on attending the school! They can help you figure out what classes you might want to take and what you need to do to sign up for those classes. Always dream big and never stop believing! Remember - the possible was once "impossible"
Apr 21, 2009. 5:05 PM652800
says:
I suggest learning the basics of your field, then getting an internship at a local engineering firm.
i personally get inspiration from here a lot.. just like hit the random link on the search page over and over until you find a fun looking project... maybe not the best idea, but I've done that : ).. maybe a vex robot kit with a pneumatic potato gun attatchment??
yea i look here all the time. the potato launching vex robot? you should get a patent on that lol
Apr 21, 2009. 1:09 PMPat the taco
says:
Legos, knex, and maybe a little arudino. If your real ambitious try putting all those in one project! :)
What an excellent question! You've definttely come to a good group of people from which to get an answer -- hopefully you'll get many.
Legos, K'nex, and Erector Sets are actually really good places to start learning mechanical and civil engineering principles first-hand. The rules of structural integrity, balance, force and torque transfer, are there for you to see first hand as you put things together. What I like most about these systems is that you're not constrained to build "what the kit tells you." The parts are generic, so you have the challenge and fun of turning something of your own design into reality.
Get involved in a local do-it-yourself community group, or a public access machine shop. You may need to do internet research (http://www.google.com :-) to find organizations like that in your area.
Your local community college is very likely to have beginning courses on electrical circuits, machining, construction techniques, and so forth. The fees, at least in California, are extremely low.
Legos, K'nex, and Erector Sets are actually really good places to start learning mechanical and civil engineering principles first-hand. The rules of structural integrity, balance, force and torque transfer, are there for you to see first hand as you put things together. What I like most about these systems is that you're not constrained to build "what the kit tells you." The parts are generic, so you have the challenge and fun of turning something of your own design into reality.
Get involved in a local do-it-yourself community group, or a public access machine shop. You may need to do internet research (http://www.google.com :-) to find organizations like that in your area.
Your local community college is very likely to have beginning courses on electrical circuits, machining, construction techniques, and so forth. The fees, at least in California, are extremely low.
thanks i think that will help a whole lot. i actually have been building legos since a young age :) coincidence? i think not! lol
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