The purpose of this course is to review the material covered in the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam to enable the student to pass it. It will be presented in modules corresponding to the FE topics, particularly those in Civil and Mechanical Engineering. Each module will review main concepts, illustrate them with examples, and provide extensive practice problems.
This section of the course will provide you with an overview of the course, an outline of the topics covered, as well as instructor comments about the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam and reference handbook.
What's included
3 videos3 readings
Show info about module content
3 videos•Total 20 minutes
Welcome!•2 minutes
Overview comments•4 minutes
Reference Handbook•13 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
Course Syllabus•10 minutes
Consent Form•10 minutes
Get More from Georgia Tech•10 minutes
Mathematics
Module 2•3 hours to complete
Module details
This module reviews the basic principles of mathematics covered in the FE Exam. We first review the equations and characteristics of straight lines, then classify polynomial equations, define quadric surfaces and conics, and trigonometric identities and areas. In algebra we define complex numbers and logarithms, and show how to manipulate matrices and determinants. Basic properties of vectors with their manipulations and identities are presented. The discussion of series includes arithmetic and geometric progressions and Taylor and Maclaurin series. Calculus begins with definitions of derivatives and gives some standard forms and computation of critical points of curves, then presents grad, del and curl operators on scalar and vector functions. Differential equations are calcified and to methods to solve linear, homogenous equations are presented. Fourier series and transforms are defined along with standard forms, and finally Laplace transforms and their inverse are discussed. In all cases, basic ideas and equations are presented along with sample problems that illustrate the major ideas and provide practice on expected exam questions.Time: Approximately 4.5 hours | Difficulty Level: Medium
What's included
15 videos2 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
15 videos•Total 123 minutes
Analytic Geometry and Trigonometry: Straight Lines •8 minutes
Analytic Geometry and Trigonometry: Polynomials and Conics•9 minutes
Analytic and Geometry and Trigonometry: Trigonometry•8 minutes
Algebra and Linear Algebra: Complex numbers and logarithms•6 minutes
Algebra and Linear Algebra: Matrices and determinants•7 minutes
Vectors: Basic Definitions and operations•13 minutes
Vectors: Examples•8 minutes
Series: Arithmetic and geometric progressions •10 minutes
Calculus: Derivatives and curvature•11 minutes
Calculus: Integration•6 minutes
Calculus: Gradient, divergence and curl•8 minutes
DifferentialEq: Classification•6 minutes
DifferentialEq: Solutions•8 minutes
DifferentialEq: Fourier series•7 minutes
DifferentialEq: Laplace•8 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Learning Objectives•10 minutes
Earn a Georgia Tech Badge/Certificate/CEUs•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Mathematics Supplemental Questions•30 minutes
Probability and Statistics
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
This module reviews the basic principles of probability and statistics covered in the FE Exam. We first review some basic parameters and definitions in statistics, such as mean and dispersion properties followed by computation of permutations and combinations. We then give the definitions of probability and the laws governing it and apply Bayes theorem. We study probability distributions and cumulative functions, and learn how to compute an expected value. Particular probability distributions covered are the binomial distribution, applied to discrete binary events, and the normal, or Gaussian, distribution. We show the meaning of confidence levels and intervals and how to use and apply them. We define and apply the central limit theorem to sampling problems and brieflyt- and c2. We define hypothesis testing and show how to apply it to random data. Finally, we show how to apply linear regression estimates to data and estimate the degree of fit including correlation coefficients and variances.In all cases, basic ideas and equations are presented along with sample problems that illustrate the major ideas and provide practice on expected exam questions. Time: Approximately 3 hours | Difficulty Level: Medium
What's included
13 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
13 videos•Total 91 minutes
Basic Parameters•11 minutes
Permutation and Combinations•9 minutes
Probability: Laws and Examples•7 minutes
Probability: Bayes Theorem•4 minutes
Probability Distributions: Density Functions•8 minutes
Probability Distributions: Expected Values•3 minutes
Probability Distributions:Binomial Distribution•7 minutes
Probability Distributions:Normal Distribution•7 minutes
Probability Distributions:Central Limit Theorem•5 minutes
Probability Distributions:Other Distributions•2 minutes
Confidence Levels•7 minutes
Hypothesis Testing•7 minutes
Linear Regression•14 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Learning Objectives•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Probability and Statistics Supplemental Questions•30 minutes
Statics
Module 4•3 hours to complete
Module details
This module reviews the principles of statics: Forces and moments on rigid bodies that are in equilibrium. We first discuss Newton’s laws and basic concepts of what is a force, vectors, and the dimensions and units involved. Then we consider systems of forces and how to compute their resultants. We discuss the main characteristics of vectors and how to manipulate them. Then the meaning and computation of moments and couples. We discuss the concept of equilibrium of a rigid body and the categories of equilibrium in two dimensions. We show how to draw a meaningful free body diagram with different types of supports. Then how to analyze pulleys and compute static friction forces and solve problems involving friction. The concept and major characteristics of trusses are discussed, especially simple trusses, and we show how to analyze them by the method of joints and the method of sections. Finally, we analyze the geometrical properties of lines, areas, and volumes that are important in statics and mechanics of materials. These are moments of inertia, centroids, and polar moments of inertia of simple and composite objects. In all cases, basic ideas and equations are presented along with sample problems that illustrate the major ideas and provide practice on expected exam questions.Time: Approximately 3 hours | Difficulty Level: Medium
What's included
9 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
9 videos•Total 150 minutes
Basic Concepts•11 minutes
Basic Concepts Continued•13 minutes
Moments and Couples•17 minutes
Equilibrium•22 minutes
Equilibrium Examples•30 minutes
Trusses•16 minutes
Trusses Method of Sections•13 minutes
Centroids and Moments of Inertia•18 minutes
Centroids and Moments of Inertia Continued•10 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Statics•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Statics Supplemental Questions•30 minutes
Mechanics of Materials
Module 5•4 hours to complete
Module details
This module reviews the principles of the mechanics of deformable bodies. We first review the basic concepts of equilibrium and stresses and strains in prismatic bars under axial loading. Then we discuss the major mechanical properties of common engineering materials, particularly the diagrams for normal stress and strain leading to Hooke’s Law, and their relation to lateral strain through Poisson’s ratio. Shear stresses and their relation to shear strains are then presented. We then analyze in detail deformations and stresses in axially loaded members. This includes uniform and nonuniform loading for statically determinate and indeterminate structures. Thermal effects are then considered: expansion and contraction under temperature changes and the stresses that may develop both with and without prestresses. Stresses on inclined planes under axial loadings and the resulting maximum and minimum normal and shear stresses that result are then discussed. Torsion, the twisting of circular rods and shafts by applied torques is then analyzed. We show how to calculate the angle of twist and shear stress as functions of rod properties and shape under uniform and nonuniform torsion. Applications to power transmission by rotating shafts are presented. We then discuss how shear forces and bending moments arise in beams subject to various loading types and how to calculate them. This is then generalized to local forms of the equilibrium equations leading to rules for drawing shear force and bending moment diagrams. Finally, we compute bending stresses in beams. Strains due to bending and their relation to curvature are first discussed. This is used to compute the bending stresses and their relation to the applied bending moment and beam material and cross sectional properties. This includes a review of computation of centroids and moments of inertia of various areal shapes. We complete this module with a discussion how shear stresses arise in beams subject to nonuniform bending and how to compute them. In all cases, basic ideas and equations are presented along with sample problems that illustrate the major ideas and provide practice on expected exam questions. Time: Approximately 4 hours | Difficulty Level: Medium
What's included
14 videos2 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
14 videos•Total 188 minutes
Stresses and Strains: Introduction •14 minutes
Stresses and Strains: Mechanical Properties •13 minutes
Axial Loadings: Thermal Effects and Stresses on Inclined Surfaces •19 minutes
Torsion: Circular Bars in Pure Torsion•20 minutes
Torsion: Nonuniform Torsion and Power •16 minutes
Shear Force and Bending Moments: Introduction to Bending of Beams•17 minutes
Shear Force and Bending Moments: Shear force and Bending Moment Diagrams •19 minutes
Stresses in Beams: Strains in Pure and Nonuniform Bending•13 minutes
Stresses in Beams: Strains in Pure and Nonuniform Bending (continued)•5 minutes
Stresses in Beams: Stresses, Moment-Curvature Equation, and Geometric Properties•10 minutes
Stresses in Beams: Digression (Centroids and Moments of Areas)•5 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Learning Objectives•10 minutes
Earn a Georgia Tech Badge/Certificate/CEUs•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Mechanics of Materials Supplemental Questions•30 minutes
Fluid Mechanics
Module 6•4 hours to complete
Module details
This module reviews the basic principles of fluid mechanics particularly the topics covered in the FE Exam. It first discusses what a fluid is and how it is distinguished from a solid, basic characteristics of liquids and gases, and concepts of normal and shear forces and stresses. The major fluid properties are then discussed. Next fluid statics are addressed: pressure variation in homogeneous and stratified fluids and application to manometers; forces on submerged plane surfaces and buoyancy forces on fully and partially submerged objects.Flowing fluids are then covered. This includes the equations for conservation of mass (the continuity equation) and energy (the Bernoulli equation). These are then applied to velocity and flow measuring devices: the Pitot tube, and Venturi and orifice meters.The final topic is similitude and dimensional analysis. This includes concepts of fundamental dimensions and dimensional homogeneity, the Buckingham Pi theorem of dimensional analysis, and the conditions for complete similitude between a full-scale prototype flow situation and a small scale model.In all cases, basic ideas and equations are presented along with sample problems that illustrate the major ideas and provide practice on expected exam questions.Time: Approximately 6 hours | Difficulty Level: Medium
What's included
19 videos1 reading1 assignment
Show info about module content
19 videos•Total 190 minutes
Fluid Properties- Introduction•6 minutes
Fluid Properties-Density and Pressure•11 minutes
Fluid Properties-Stresses Viscosity•16 minutes
Fluid Properties-Surface tension•10 minutes
Fluid Properties-Units and other properties•4 minutes
Fluid Statics- Introduction and Pressure Variation•12 minutes
Fluid Statics-Application to manometers and barometers•15 minutes
Fluid Statics-Forces on submerged plane surfaces•10 minutes
Fluid Statics-Forces on submerged plane surfaces continued•9 minutes
Fluid Statics-Buoyancy and stability•9 minutes
Continuity and Energy Equations: Continuity and mass conservation•8 minutes
Continuity and Energy Equations: Energy equation•9 minutes
Continuity and Energy Equations: Energy equation examples•9 minutes
Flow Measurement-Pilot tubes•11 minutes
Flow Measurement-Venturi meter•4 minutes
Flow Measurement-Orifice meter•9 minutes
Flow Measurement-Dimensions and units, Pi theorem•12 minutes
Flow Measurement-Similitude•9 minutes
Flow Measurement-Similitude examples•13 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Fluid Mechanics•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Fluid Mechanics Supplemental Questions•30 minutes
Hydraulics and Hydrologic Systems
Module 7•3 hours to complete
Module details
This module applies basic principles of fluid mechanics to practical problems in hydraulics, hydrology, and groundwater flow. We first discuss the generalized and one-dimensional momentum theorem and apply it to various typical problems. Flow in pipes and non-circular conduits is discussed beginning with the Bernoulli equation accounting for energy losses and gains. Calculation of head loss due to friction and minor losses due to valves and other accoutrements are presented. Friction losses are calculated for laminar Poiseuille flow and turbulent flow using the Moody chart; examples include computation of pressure drop in laminar pipe flow and turbulent water flow. Methods to calculate flow in pipe networks consisting of multiple connecting pipes and other fittings is then discussed with examples for parallel pipes. Pipes and turbines are then discussed along with their basic equations and definitions. Characteristic curves, especially of centrifugal pumps, are presented and it is shown how to match a pump to a system head.Flow in open channels are discussed including classification of flow types and prediction of uniform flow by the Manning equation. The use of specific energy concepts to solve gradually varying flows, and the importance of the Froude number and sub and supercritical flows are presented. Predictions of hydraulic jumps and flow over weirs are given.Hydrological principles include predictions of surface runoff by the curve number method and peak runoff by the rational formula. Groundwater principles include Darcy’s law for flow through porous media and prediction of drawdown by wells in confined and unconfined aquifers by the Dupuit and Thiem equations.In all cases, basic ideas and equations are presented along with sample problems that illustrate the major ideas and provide practice on expected exam questions.Time: Approximately 3 hours | Difficulty Level: Medium
This module reviews basic principles of the structural analysis of trusses and beams. It builds on material covered in Statics (Module 6) and Mechanics of Materials (Module 8). We first review the conditions for static equilibrium, then apply them to simple trusses and beams. We then consider the deflections of beams under various types of loadings and supports. We derive the differential equations that govern the deflected shapes of beams and present their boundary conditions. We show how to solve the equations for a particular case and present other solutions. The method of superposition and its application to predicting beam deflection and slope under more complex loadings is then discussed. Finally the conditions for static determinacy and indeterminacy are presented along with example applications to trusses and beams. In all cases, basic ideas and equations are presented along with sample problems that illustrate the major ideas and provide practice on expected exam questions.Time: Approximately 2.5 hours | Difficulty Level: Medium
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