Randolph-Macon College students enrolled in Professor James T. McLeskey’s Introduction to Engineering Physics learned about the various fields of engineering—including civil and mechanical—through class discussions, guest speakers, and videos. The January Term (J-term) course also introduced students to the topics taught in the core engineering physics courses at RMC—static equilibrium, solid mechanics, and fluid mechanics through the working of problems, laboratory exercises and a design project.

Photos: Mousetrap Car Distance Challenge

McLeskey, the director of the Engineering Physics program, presented his students with an unusual final project: a Mousetrap Car Distance Challenge.

“While many associate engineering with analysis—solving closed-ended problems—one important aspect of the discipline is design,” explains McLeskey. “Design is a creative, open-ended process used to create a machine or process to satisfy a need. The Mousetrap Car project was developed to help students understand and master the design process.”

Mousetrap Car: Rules of the Road
McLeskey’s students formed teams and were asked to build a race car powered by a single mousetrap to satisfy one criterion: to travel as far as possible. They could use additional materials beyond those that were provided (blocks of wood, wheels, for example), but only one mousetrap per car was allowed.

They then brainstormed, developed concepts and created four different designs before selecting the design they wanted to build. Before construction began, the students were asked to analyze their designs in order to predict how far their cars would travel. Once the cars were built, each team optimized its design for maximum distance. A contest was held to see which team’s car would travel the farthest.

“Results varied from 11 to 44 feet, but all of the cars demonstrated the kind of creativeness and ingenuity that one would expect from Randolph-Macon engineers,” says McLeskey. “Students used a wide variety of materials—from duct tape to CDs to record albums—to design their cars. It was a fun way to end a month of learning and discovery.”

Teamwork
Emma Tiernan ’19 is an engineering physics major and chemistry minor who found that the Mousetrap Challenge lived up to its name.

“We were provided with a few materials, but we could use any supplies we wanted, as long as they could not serve as an alternative power source for the car,” she explains. “My group sat together for at least an hour, brainstorming and making a long list of potential materials,” she says.

After editing the list and deciding on a final design, Tiernan and her teammates spent the following class time building and testing their car.

“Our car would go about 10 feet and then make a sharp right turn into the wall,” she recalls. “After that happened four times in a row, we went back to the classroom and came up with a list of ideas that we hoped would stop the turning. We ended up putting weights on one side of the car, which worked well.”

The most interesting part of the project was applying each step of the design process, says Tiernan.

“We brainstormed ideas, built a prototype, and then went back and optimized the design, which lead us to our final car. The Intro to Engineering class was a truly enriching experience.” 

Tiernan’s post-RMC plans reflect her passion for engineering.

“I hope to either get a master’s degree in aerospace engineering or go directly into the workforce,” she says. “My dream is to design commercial aircraft that emphasize passenger comfort rather than fitting the maximum number of passengers in a small space. Hopefully in a few years I’ll be in Seattle designing aircraft for Boeing!”

RMC’s Engineering Physics Program
From advanced computing to innovative medical treatments to groundbreaking new technologies, engineering is at the forefront of some of the most exciting developments of our new century. For students interested in an engineering career, the Engineering Physics major at Randolph-Macon College offers both a thorough foundation in the discipline as well as the broad-based education essential for success in a global economy.

January Term at RMC
RMC’s popular J-term provides students with an opportunity to immerse themselves in another culture, embark on an internship, conduct groundbreaking research or explore other areas of study on campus. This year, 1316 students participated in J-term, including internships, study-abroad, and on-campus courses.