16-Edison, Brown and Electrocution

Nov 17–Read Empires of Light, pp. 165-179 (Constant Danger from Sudden Death).  In-class discussion and blog posting on Brown’s role in Edison’s public relations campaign against AC.   What do you think of Harold Brown and Edison’s PR campaign, especially the demonstrations Jonnes discusses (172-77)?  Was this campaign ethical?  Was it a legitimate business and engineering enterprise?   Use the New Post link in the blue area at the top of the page.  Make sure to check the boxes on the posting page for your name (under people) and Edison Electrocution (under assignments).   

Nov 19–Read Empires of Light, pp. 185-198 and 204 (bottom)-213 (The Horrible Experiment).  Post your thoughts on whether Edison’s position on electrocution was unethical or otherwise  misconceived.  Use the New Post link in the blue area at the top of the page.  Make sure to check the boxes on the posting page for your name (under people) and Edison Electrocution (under assignments).   

Nov 24th–read Empires of Light, pp.  198-204 (the PR struggle over the electrocution of a Western Union lineman in The Horrible Experiment).  Imagine you are either Edison or Westinghouse and enter a post to the class blog in the form of a letter to one of the New York papers on the Western Union lineman case and the safety of AC and DC.  Use category 17 for this posting. At the end of the class, you will comment on each other’s postings. 

For your final paper, you will write a 4 page (typed and double spaced) revision of your letter to the New York papers on the Western Union lineman case and the safety of AC and DC.  You can submit the paper (bring a print copy to my office and email me an electronic copy) anytime after Wed Dec 10th and before Mon Dec 15th). 

15-Tesla lecture & AC Motor

For Mon Nov 10th, read Empires of Light, pp.  141-163 and 179-183 (Edison Declares War; Constant Danger).  Then review carefully pp. 153-163 and post an account of Tesla’s lecture to the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in 1888.  Make sure you explain the importance of polyphase AC in Tesla’s induction motor.  Also indicate why Westinghouse purchased Tesla’s patents and difficulties Tesla had working with Westinghouse Engineers and commercializing his design.  

During class you will use the blog’s comment function to vote on:  1) which account is the most technically correct and comprehensive; 2) which account is the most accessible and understandable to non-engineers; and 3) which account is the best mix of the two.   

10b-Computer Memory (Delay Line & DRAM)

After my Nov 3rd lecture in class on early digital computers (ENIAC, EDVAC and UNIVAC) and the role of Presper Eckert, John Mauchly and John von Neumann in their development, we will look at a short video on mercury delay line memory and von Neumann’s First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC. 

You should then post an entry explaining how Delay Line memory and Dynamic Random Access Memory work and how they differ.  Some of the first computers, like the EDVAC and the UNIVAC, used the former.  What are some of the uses for DRAM today?  Once you have visited Micron add an account of the manufacturing process you saw on the tour.

14b-Westinghouse

In class on Wed Oct 22nd, each group will split up and write an analysis of the strenths and weaknesses of the two intro paragraphs on the Wiki as well as propose revisions.

If you handed in the final copy of your Tesla paper on Mon, go to the assignment for next Wed (10-29) on the syllabus and/or Wiki and do reading and research on Westinghouse’s most important contributions and post what you have learned to the blog (checking Westinghouse and your name under categories.

12-Electric Nation

Mon, Oct 6th–in-class showing of Electric Nation.  Within two days of seeing the documentary, you are required to post a short response to the film.  After writing about what you learned from the film and what you thought of it, answer the following questions:  1) What larger question about electricity does the documentary address? 2) Why was the idea of a system so important in Edison’s electrification of NYC? 3) What was Samuel Insull’s vision for electricity and why did it go wrong?   4) What were Roosevelt’s policies during the Depression with regards to the electrification of America?  What argument did Wilkie make against Roosevent and the TVA? 

Edison/Ohm’s Law–posting evaluation

In class on Sept 17th you will read your fellow classmates postings and then leave comments on the postings you consider:  1) the most technically accomplished and complete; 2) the most understandable for non-specialist readers; and 3) the best mix of the two. 

Make sure to give your reasons and note any sentences or phrases you have difficulty understanding.  Also note specific points you think might be inncorrect or need clarification technically.  We will add up the votes in each category and look at the winners.

11a-Edison and Ohm’s Law

After listening to Paul Israel’s Edison the Man chapter 10 in class on Sept 15th, you will begin your blog posting on the question “How did Edison’s understanding of Ohm’s law influence the design of his electric lighting system?”  Be as technical as you feel is necessary but explain any terms and formulas you use.  The final posting is due before class on Wed.  Check the categories for your name (under people) and Edison (under assignments).

02a-Registering on the Blog

Before you post to the blog for the first time, you will need to register on WordPress.com–unless you already have a WordPress account (my students from last semester do).   Click Signup Now in the upper right and use your GMU user name and email address; write down your password (or use one you will remember).  Leave Gimme a blogunchecked. I will use your GMU email address to give you write privileges on the blog.  Because this may take a while, you may want to begin your writing using an HTML editor or Word (saving the file as a web page ).

Once you are fully have registered, you should see a New Post link at the top of the page.  Give your post a title like “Introduction,” and enter the text of your post in the box under Post.  You should see a check box with your name under People at the top right of the Write page as one of the categories.  Also check Introductions before you click on Publish.

You will follow this procedure in future posts except that you will chose different titles and check different categories to correspond to the assignment.  If you do not check these categories, you will not receive credit for the assignment.

05-Introductions

In-class writing and blog posting on why you want to be an engineer and in what field.  Introduce yourself to the class and post a preliminary account of why you want to be an engineer and in what field.  If you are not currently planning on majoring in engineering, write about why are you interested in Engineering (i.e. taking this link) and whether there any particular kinds of Engineering you are interested in.  (Note:  this is one of a series of blog posting preparing you for your presentations in Engineering 107 on Sept 18th and 25th)

See the GMU library web guide on Engineering at http://library.gmu.edu/resources/engin/, especially the list of Professional Engineering Associations and Societies at
http://library.gmu.edu/resources/engin/societies.html

02b-Posting and Revising

When you post, remember to check the appropriate categories for that entry (Introductions, etc) using the box in the upper right of the posting area. Its especially important you check your name in the category box as well; otherwise, you may not get credit for your work and it will be much harder for the class to see what you have to say.

To make your posts, click on the New Post link in the blue area at the top right of the page. Then enter the title of your post (Assignment 2-14, the work discussed) and your name in the title box and your essay itself in the Posting box.

Adding/Revising an Existing Post

When you want to add to an existing post, go to that post and click | Edit | at the bottom of the post and then add what you want in the posting box. Remember to click Save so your changes appear. Also, make sure your name and the appropriate assignment are both checked in the categories list to the right of the page. Note that if you click Comment (the text will be No Comment if there are no comments yet) under your original posting, your additions will not be added to your earlier post. Commenting is a way of replying to a fellow student’s posting, not adding to your own. I will introduce this feature in class next Wed.

 

To find your posts, the easiest way is to click on your name under categories (in the lower right of the blog page) and then edit the post. If you have forgotten to categorize your posts, you can check the Uncategorized listing or read through the posts to find what you wrote. (Keep clicking on Older Entries at the bottom of the page(s) to find older posts). Checking the categories to begin with is a key element of the procedure so you can find what you have done easily. It’s also an essential step for you to receive credit for your work. It’s best to uncheck Uncategorized when you check your name and the assignment in the category listing on the post page so only uncategorized posts appear when you click on this link.