350 Engineering Fundamentals
free body diagram: A simple drawing that
includes three components: the structural
members and joints, the supports, and the
loads or forces that are applied. (9)
freewriting: An individual brainstorming
technique in which an engineer generates
possible ideas by writing them down. (3)
friction: A force that acts against motion when
two surfaces rub together. (10)
function: The criteria tested on a design to
determine whether it works properly. (6)
future process: A brainstorming technique
in which engineers intentionally focus on
solutions that are not possible yet because of
technological or scientifi c limitations. (3)
G
Garbage Patch: The area of marine trash in the
North Pacifi c Ocean estimated to be about
twice the size of Texas and made up mostly
of plastic. (15)
gas discharge lamps: A lamp that creates light
when gas inside of a globe is ionized and
glows. (8)
gasification: The thermochemical conversion
process of turning biomass into carbon
dioxide and hydrogen through a controlled
amount of high temperatures and
oxygen. (11)
gas turbine engine: An engine, also known as a
jet engine, that pulls air into the front of the
engine, increases the pressure of the air, and
forces it out the back of the engine at great
speed. (13)
gauge pressure: The measurement of pressure
relative to the atmospheric pressure. (15)
gear: A device that transmits rotational force
against another gear or device. (10)
gear ratio: The relationship between two gears
that describes the change in torque. (10)
gene: The hereditary unit of living organisms
that contains information about the traits
from parents and gives instruction to the rest
of the cell on which traits to pass on to the
offspring. (11)
generator: A device that produces electricity by
changing mechanical energy to electrical
energy through the use of magnets. (8)
genetically engineered crop: A plant whose
genetic structure has been changed
intentionally. (11)
genetics: The fi eld of study focused on the
ways in which genes are used inside the cell
structure. (11)
geomatics engineering: A type of engineering
usually associated with civil engineering,
interested in determining the location of
objects on the Earth. (9)
geospatial modeling software: The civil
engineering software that uses spatial
and analytical methods integrated with
information about the earth’s surface and
data about people. (6)
green design: A type of design that focuses on
creating products that are not harmful to
environment throughout their life cycle. (16)
gyre: The rotating oceanic current. (15)
H
harvesting: The process of retrieving mature
natural resources that grow on the earth. In
manufacturing, harvesting commonly refers
to the cutting of trees for wood and wood
products. (14)
herbicides: Chemicals sprayed by farmers to
eliminate weeds that may damage a specifi c
crop. (11)
homeostasis: The ability of an organism to
regulate itself in order to maintain a constant
state. (11)
horsepower: The amount of work a horse can do in
one minute, which is 33,000 foot-pounds. (10)
human-computer interaction: The study of
the interactions between humans and
computers. (12)
hybrid car: A fuel-effi cient car that uses an
internal combustion engine combined with
an electric motor and batteries. (8)
hydraulic system: A system that uses a liquid,
such as water or oil, to transmit power. (10)