MECE 415 Busting Myths with Analysis

Which way does the sink drain swirl? Mec E 415 explore this and other popular myths using theory and calculation. If you have a myth you’d like explored in this course, contact the course instructors, Professors Jason Carey and Warren Finlay.

Winter 2011 Course Syllabus

Winter 2012 Course Syllabus

Syllabus
1
 Introduction to course (outline, marks,…)
Short myths: Race car driven up-side-down, plane on conveyor belt
2
Run or walk in the rain/ Run or walk in the cold
Airborne myths
3
 Penny dropped from building
4  Water bottle jetpack
5  Border slingshot
6  Using a bomb blast to land safely from freefall without a parachute
7  Birds on a truck
8
 Swing set straight 360
Gun Myths
9
 Poncelet’s approximation for bullet penetration
10
 Under water bullet shelter
11
 Bullet and guns in oven are deadly?
12
 Blown away (cowboy myth)
13
 Bullet shot vertically is deadly?
14
 Bullet-deflecting magnetic watch
15
 Ice bullet

Car myths
16
 Cable pulls off car axle
17
 Drive shaft pole vault
18
 Skidding straight or turn to avoid a wall collision

Pressure vessel myths
19
 Compressed air cylinder can power a boat
20
 Compressed air cylinder can break through a cinder block wall
21
 Exploding/rocket water heater
22
 Pop can explodes if left in car (hot and cold)

Other myths
23
 Bathtub vortex always rotates counter clockwise
24
 Brachristochrone
25
 Freezing hot or room temperature water, which is faster?
26
 Break step bridge

If time permits the following additional myths may be examined
27
 Cooling beer quickly
28
 Twin tower myths