Articles written by Susan Kristoff
All 48 articles written by Susan Kristoff
Introduction to Data Acquisition: The Evolution of DAQ Systems for Testing and Measurement
Category: Electrical Engineering
Data acquisition systems are used to collect data about the behavior of objects or systems. more...
The Photoelectric Effect: Converting Sunlight to Energy Via Photovoltaic Cells
Category: Electrical Engineering
The photoelectric effect can be harnessed to create energy from sunlight using photovoltaic cells. more...
An Introduction to Refrigeration: How Refrigeration Processes Improve the Quality of Life
Category: Mechanical Engineering
Refrigerators and air conditioners owe their performance to the thermodynamic process known as the refrigeration cycle. more...
An Introduction to Railway Engineering: The Engineering behind Railroad Systems
Category: Mechanical Engineering
Railway engineering is one of the oldest of the formal engineering disciplines, tracing its roots to the early 19th century and the birth of steam-power in Britain. more...
Civil Engineering 101: An Introduction to Civil Engineers and What They Do
Category: Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is one branch of the engineering profession, and is concerned with the understanding development of structures meant for public use. more...
Characteristics of Sensors: Selecting a Sensor Based on its Traits
Category: Engineering (general)
Sensors are used by engineers to characterize the characteristics or behavior of an object or system. Choosing the right sensor for the job is critical. more...
Review: Wii Fit: Nintendo’s New Exercise Game
Category: Sports Games
Wii Fit, Nintendo's latest innovation for the Wii gaming console, gets the gamer off the couch. more...
An Introduction to Accelerometers: Using Sensors to Measure Acceleration
Category: Engineering (general)
Accelerometers allow engineers to measure the accelerations in bodies and systems to ensure safety and proper operation, but can also be found in everyday objects. more...
Hydroelectric Power Generation: How the Potential Energy of Water is Used to Generate Electricity
Category: Environmental Engineering
Hydroelectric power is one of the oldest power generation methods and is a critical part of world electricity generation. more...
Non-Destructive Evaluation Methods: How To Test Products and Systems without Inflicting Damage
Category: Engineering (general)
Non-destructive evaluation methods allow for inspection and characterization of complex systems to find flaws before they become critical. more...
Chemical Engineering 101: An Introduction to Chemical Engineers and What They Do
Category: Engineering (general)
Chemical engineers are involved in pharmaceuticals, fossil and biofuels, materials and processes related to many household products. more...
Introduction to Die Casting: A Cost-Effective Method of Using High Pressure to Cast Metal Parts
Category: Manufacture Engineering
Die casting is a cost-effective method to mass-produce lightweight metallic parts for household and industrial use. more...
An Introduction to Sensors: How Engineers Use Sensors to Measure Object Properties and Behaviors
Category: Engineering (general)
Electrical and mechanical sensors are widely used to characterize the performance and properties of components and systems, but are also found in household objects. more...
Use of Robotics for Space Work: How Candarm Robotic Arms Provide Assistance for Application in Space
Category: Mechanical Engineering
The Canadarm robotic arm has proved invaluable to Space Shuttle astronauts, and the Canadarm 2 is doing the same for the International Space Station. more...
Automobile Crashworthiness: Designing Safety Mechanisms To Reduce Car Collision Casualties
Category: Mechanical Engineering
Advances in the understanding of automobile crashworthiness have allowed engineers to design safety mechanisms that reduce injuries in vehicle collisions. more...
National Engineers Week 2008: Celebrating the Contributions of Engineers to our Society
Category: Engineering (general)
National Engineers Week occurs in February each year, and is held to create awareness of the contributions of engineers to society. more...
Wind Power Used for 2000 Years: History of Types of Windmills and the Development of Wind Turbines
Category: Engineering (general)
Humans have been using wind power for thousands of years to mill grain, pump water, and create electricity. more...
How to Write Business Proposals: Effectively Communicating Great Ideas Through Project Bids
Category: Technical/Business Writing (general)
The proposal is one mechanism for businesses to express their innovative ideas and obtain funding to develop their ideas into quality products and services. more...
The Contents of a Winning Proposal: Five Steps to Successful Proposal Development
Category: Technical/Business Writing (general)
Grow your business by writing stellar proposals in response to business opportunities. more...
Recycling Holiday Cards: Incorporating Cards and Photos into a Holiday Scrapbook Page
Category: Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts
Recycle all of those cards and photos that you receive over the holidays into scrapbook layouts. more...
5 Essential Cutting Tools: The Most Needed Blade Tools for Scrapbooking and Paper Crafts
Category: Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts
Since scrapbooking and paper crafting are all about using papers and embellishments, these five tools will get any cutting job done. more...
Chipboard 101: Using Chipboard as an Embellishment in Scrapbooking Projects
Category: Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts
Learn five easy ways to dress up chipboard and incorporate it into your scrapbooking and paper crafting projects. more...
10 Essential Scrapbooking Tools: The Basic Tools for Scrapbook and Paper Crafting
Category: Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts
These tools are all that is needed to create beautiful scrapbook and paper craft topics. more...
Handmade Teacher Gifts: Using Paper Crafting Techniques to Create Fun and Easy Gifts
Category: Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts
Creative teacher gifts are easy to make using scrapbooking, stamping, and paper crafting techniques. more...
The Wheatstone Bridge: Using Bridge Circuits to Provide Signal Conditioning
Category: Electrical Engineering
Wheatstone Bridge circuits are often used with strain gauges and other resistive sensors for signal conditioning. more...
Financing an Engineering Education: Strategies for Finding the Money to Pay for Engineering School
Category: Engineering (general)
An engineering education is an investment, and there are many options to pay for engineering school tuition. more...
Strain Gauges and Rail Forces: Using Strain Sensors to Measure Force in Continuously Welded Rail
Category: Mechanical Engineering
Sealed, weldable strain gauges provide an inexpensive and robust system for monitoring rail forces in continuously welded rail (CWR). more...
Measuring Rail Forces: How to Characterize Internal Forces in Continuously Welded Rail
Category: Mechanical Engineering
Strain gauges can be used to measure vertical, lateral, and longitudinal forces in continuously welded rail (CWR). more...
Electrical Engineering 101: An Introduction to Electrical Engineers and What They Do
Category: Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering is one branch of the engineering profession, and is concerned with the understanding of electricity and the development of electronic systems. more...
Introduction to Simple Machines: How Mechanical Devices are Used to Transmit Forces
Category: Mechanical Engineering
Simple machines are mechanical devices that provide mechanical advantage when inputing a force. more...
Introduction to Optical Sensors: Using Light as a Measurement Tool
Category: Engineering (general)
Optical sensors detect the presence or behavior of light waves. This could include light in the visible spectrum, or outside the visible spectrum. more...
The Basics of Geothermal Power: Using Geothermal Heat to Generate Electricity
Category: Environmental Engineering
Geothermal sources are used worldwide to generate electricity for residential and industrial use. more...
Strain Gauge Installation Methods: How Strain Measurement Sensors are Applied to Test Specimens
Category: Mechanical Engineering
Strain gauges can be installed on a wide range of test systems to evaluate strain, stresses and forces being generated. more...
Solar Antennae that Generate Power: Gathering Solar Energy via Nanoscale Antennae Developed in Idaho
Category: Manufacture Engineering
A team at the Idaho National Laboratories has developed an innovative method to manufacture nanoscale antennae at the right size to capture energy from the sun. more...
Creating an Altered Clipboard: Using Paper Crafting Techniques to Decorate a Clipboard
Category: Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts
An altered clipboard makes a great gift for teachers, friends, or family members. more...
Category: Environmental Engineering
Electricity generated from solar power makes up a growing portion of the worldwide power generation market. more...
An Introduction to Strain Gauges: How Engineers Use Sensors to Measure Strain in Mechanical Parts
Category: Mechanical Engineering
Strain gauges are the most widely used method to measure small strains in mechanical components. more...
Airbag Components and Function: How Airbags are Designed to Save Lives in Automobile Accidents
Category: Mechanical Engineering
Airbags have been the largest occupant safety innovation in the automobile industry since the introduction of the lap/shoulder seatbelt. more...
Recycling Used Automobile Tires: Novel Methods for Reusing Rubber Tire Material
Category: Environmental Engineering
While piles of discarded automobile tires used to be an eyesore or a fire hazard, today there are many methods to recycle tires and put the material to good use. more...
Generating Power from Wind Energy: How Wind Power Is Converted into Electricity
Category: Engineering (general)
Electricity generated from wind power makes up a growing portion of the worldwide power generation market. more...
Digital Paper Cutting Systems: Advances in Technology for the Paper Crafter and Scrapbooker
Category: Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts
Digital cutting systems give the paper crafter the ability to cut detailed fonts and shapes in limitless sizes and variations. more...
Category: Business Project Management
Choosing the most capable people for a project team is vital to the success of a project. more...
Useful Paper Craft Cutting Tools: Punches, Die-Cutters and More for the Scrapbooker
Category: Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts
Once you have added the essential cutting tools to your collection, these additional tools make paper crafting and scrapbooking easy. more...
Scrapbooking Your Goals: Creating a Goal Journal to Help You to Stick to Your Resolutions
Category: Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts
Writing down your resolutions in a journal is a great first step to sticking to them. Use journaling and scrapbooking techniques to add a creative touch to your goals. more...
Altering Chipboard with Paper: Decorating Chipboard Shapes Using Paper Scraps
Category: Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts
Create simple embellishments for scrapbooking projects by covering chipboard shapes with paper. more...
Custom Envelopes for Gift Cards: Dress up an ordinary gift card with a handmade envelope.
Category: Scrapbooking & Paper Crafts
Creating a custom envelope is a simple way to give a personal touch to a gift card. more...
Mechanical Engineering 101: An Introduction to Mechanical Engineers and What They Do
Category: Engineering (general)
What is mechanical engineering? Learn about the branches of the field, educational paths and professional societies. more...
Engineering 101: The Basics: An Introduction to Engineers and What They Do
Category: Engineering (general)
Learn about the engineering profession, including the branches of engineering, what engineers do, and the contributions of engineers to society. more...
