Engineering

Engineering is the application of pure science to practical problems. More specifically, engineering is a professional activity that uses imagination, judgement, and intelligence in the application of science, technology, mathematics, and practical experience to design, produce, and operate useful objects or processes that meet the needs and desires of humanity. It is sometimes considered to be synonymous with technology. Professional practitioners of engineering are called engineers.

Comparison to Science

:You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?" —George Bernard Shaw

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Engineering is concerned with the design of a solution to a practical problem. A scientist may ask "why?" and proceed to research the answer to the question. By contrast, engineers want to know how to solve a problem, and how to implement that solution.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In other words, scientists investigate phenomena, whereas engineers create solutions to problems or improve upon existing solutions. However, in the course of their work, scientists may have to complete engineering tasks (such as designing experimental apparatus or building prototypes), while engineers often have to do research.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, engineering research has a character different from that of scientific research. First, it often deals with areas in which the basic physics and/or chemistry are well understood, but the problems themselves are too complex to solve in an exact manner. The purpose of engineering research is then to find approximations to the problem that can be solved. Examples are the use of numerical approximations to the Navier-Stokes equations to solve aerodynamic flow over an aircraft, or the use of Miner's rule to calculate fatigue damage to an engineering structure. Second, engineering research employs many semi-empirical methods that are foreign to pure scientific research, one example being the method of parameter variation.

Related Topics:
Navier-Stokes equations - Miner's rule - Method of parameter variation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In general, it can be stated that a scientist builds in order to learn, but an engineer learns in order to build.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As an illustrative example, on 21 November 1877, Thomas A. Edison developed the phonograph — a remarkable feat of engineering. Then, he directed his assistant (the technologist) to improve the device further by removing harmonics from the sound output.

Related Topics:
21 November - 1877 - Thomas A. Edison - Phonograph

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~