Get A Grip On Robotics
http://www.thetech.org/exhibits_events/online/robots/teaser/
Get A Grip On Robotics is a wonderful site for both children and adults to learn about robots. The site focuses mainly on industrial applications of robots -- their most common and practical use. The exhibit covers robot basics, the five main parts of a robot, how they move (i.e., "degrees of freedom"), and current and future outlooks for the technology. There are several animations that show a jointed-arm robot in action and how it compares to a human arm. One section of the site addresses the issue of robotic automation replacing human workers. Two fictitious stories are given that highlight this problem and allow readers to consider the pros and cons of different decisions. This site presents both technical and philosophical aspects of robotics, which makes it a very unique source of information. [CL]
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Introduction to Mechanisms
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/People/rapidproto/mechanisms/tablecontents.html
Most grade school students learn about the lever, the pulley, the inclined plane, the wheel and axle, the wedge, and the screw. These are collectively known as the six simple machines. The Introduction to Mechanisms offers a much more in-depth look at the underlying principles of these and other more complex devices. The material is appropriate for advanced high school students, engineering students, or anyone interested in learning how mechanisms work. Hosted by Carnegie Mellon University, the site is essentially an online book with a well-defined table of contents and hyperlinked index. Besides the simple machines, other topics include physical principles, kinematics, planar linkages, cams, and gears. Each chapter has many figures and diagrams that illustrate the concepts. [CL]
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Mathlets: Java Applets for Math Explorations
http://cs.jsu.edu/mcis/faculty/leathrum/Mathlets/
Mathlets are a collection of over 40 Java applets written by Dr. Tom Leathrum, a professor of mathematics at Jacksonville State University. These handy utilities perform basic calculator and graphing functions, as well as demonstrating several concepts from precalculus and calculus. The three-dimensional graphing applets are especially useful; by simply clicking on the graph and moving the mouse, the entire plot rotates, allowing the user to see it from any angle. This can greatly ease the visualization process, which is often very difficult for students. For Java programmers interested in how Dr. Leathrum created these applets, many examples of the source code are given on the Web site. [CL]
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Electronics for Beginners and Intermediate Electronics
http://ourworld.cs.com/gknott5413/
Graham Knott, an instructor at Cambridge Regional College in England, has put together a very large collection of information about electronics for beginning and intermediate levels. The beginners section is divided into categories consisting of general theory, practical skills and projects, components, test and measurement, digital, DC theory, and block diagrams. Each of these categories has many subsections that describe the fundamentals of electronics. The intermediate area has even more information, including transistor operation and common amplifiers. This is a great site for hobbyists, too. The material can be purchased on CD, bundled with several software tools and simulators; however, the educational material is all free on the Web site. [CL]
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The KnotPlot Site [.mpeg]
http://www.pims.math.ca/knotplot/
No, this isn't an instructional knot-tying site for the Boy Scouts! The KnotPlot Site looks at the mathematical side of knots and the theory behind them. There are many categories of knots to explore, with hundreds of pictures of some very perplexing twists and tangles. The pictures were created with the KnotPlot software, which can be downloaded from a link on the site's home page. MPEG animations give an even better view of knot formation. KnotPlot has received numerous Internet awards and is maintained by Rob Scharein at the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences. [CL]
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Floppy's Web3D Guide
http://web3d.vapourtech.com/
Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) first came into general use about seven years ago "to create the infrastructure and conventions of cyberspace, a multi user space of many virtual worlds on the Net." To this day, the three dimensional "worlds" designed with VRML are breathtaking, allowing the user to move around and see them from any perspective. Floppy's Web3D Guide has a VRML tutorial for curious programmers and several workshops that expand on the tutorial. A developer library has loads of source code, or you can submit your own. The Info section has frequently asked questions lists about general VRML information, and Tools has many viewers and utilities for download. Even if you're not into programming, just seeing a well-modeled three dimensional world is quite an experience. [CL]
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Dimensional Analysis
http://www.physics.uoguelph.ca/tutorials/dimanaly/
For many chemistry and physics students, some of the most frustrating problems involve dimensional analysis. This is a very important concept that is more related to mathematics and equation consistency than the sciences. A dimensional analysis tutorial is offered at the physics department's Web site of the University of Guelph. It is an excellent guide that helps students understand the five dimensions of physical quantities and how to work with units to achieve correct results. There are seven quizzes and a final post-test that assess the student's grasp of the topic, with answers given after each exercise for comparison. [CL]
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Engineer On A Disk [.pdf]
http://claymore.engineer.gvsu.edu/eod/
Engineer On A Disk is a great resource for any undergraduate engineering student studying for a fundamentals exam. The material covered on the site spans nearly every engineering discipline and is maintained by a professor at Grand Valley State University. Topics include circuits, materials, computer programming and hardware, mechanical device design, mechatronics, quality control, manufacturing processes, and general reference. Each section is huge, with many items that are discussed in detail. The HTML version of Engineer On A Disk is quite difficult to navigate; however, the Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) version is much better. [CL]
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