Two mechanical engineering classes at Slippery Rock University culminated a semester-long project by sending objects into the sky above campus.
Seniors from the Thermal System Design class developed models to simulate rocket flights using water-propelled simulations to study thermodynamics, fluids and dynamics.
Juniors from the Machine Design course conducted a trebuchet launch using the machines they designed, analyzed and built during the semester. Trebuchets are hurling devices known more for their use in medieval warfare, but their intricate design requires skills and principles that can be used in other mechanical engineering applications. For the trebuchet launch, students competed against one another as they launched everything from baseballs to melons.
Both demonstrations occurred May 1 at a field near SRU’s athletics facilities.
More information about mechanical engineering at SRU is available on the program’s webpage.
