Engineering Physics Thesis PHYS455

Calendar Description:

Students will be assigned individual design topics of the type a practicing engineering physicist might expect to encounter.

They must develop a solution under the supervision of a faculty member, and give oral and written presentations to an examining committee.

Grades will be based on the quality of the analysis of the problem, the proposed solution, and the written and oral presentations.

The demonstration of effective written and oral communications skills is required.

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Engineering Physics Thesis PHYS455

What is it?What is it?• An individual design project • A ‘paper’ project• An opportunity to apply knowledge and abilities gained in courses to a real problem• It is NOT a research project• A proposal to management

What final form does it take?What final form does it take?• Statement of the problem• Critical evaluation of alternative solutions• Recommendation for action (usually a design)

Cost analysis

Example 1

Design a pollution control system based on new xerantic technology

You work for a production firm that usesstandard technology to control smokestackemissions, but there are strong government incentives to further decrease output levels.Your boss comes back from a conferencewhere there was a presentation about a promising new technique for reducing pollution levels.

Your job: •Research this new idea, prepare a design of how best it might fit into your existing system and do a cost analysis todetermine how much it will cost/save the company.•Prepare a ~5000 word report for the boardof directors. The biannual director’s boardmeeting is coming up and you have a 15 minuteslot on the agenda in which to present your findings.

Example 2

Evaluate and design applications for a new self lubricating widget.

You work for a company that makes widgets.The company has just patented a new type of widget that is self-lubricating but at the time there is no market for these things so thereis no point in producing them.

Your job: •The board of directors wants to know if it is worth prototyping this new product.Conduct a survey of possible applications for the new product. Find the best one and prepare a design which includes how thenew self-lubricating widget could be built in to this existing application.•Prepare a ~5000 word report for the boardof directors. The biannual director’s boardmeeting is coming up and you have a 15 minuteslot on the agenda in which to present your findings.

PHYS 455 Fall Schedule

11 Sept. (Mon) Fall term classes begin

12 Sept (Tues) Introductory Meeting with PHYS 455 students

19 Sept (Tues) Deadline for students to submit preferences (5) for thesis topics

21 Sept (Thurs) Thesis topics assigned

6 Oct (Fri) Bi-weekly Report #1 Due

20 Oct (Fri) Bi-weekly Report #2 Due

3 Nov (Fri) Bi-weekly Report #3 Due

17 Nov (Fri) Bi-weekly Report #4 Due

PHYS 455 Fall Schedule

20 Nov (Mon) Deadline for students to submit mid-year reports (4:00 pm in Physics office room 205)

22 Nov (Wed) Preliminary schedule for oral presentations posted

28 Nov - 1 Dec Oral Presentations(Tues – Fri)

1 Dec (Fri) Fall term classes end

PHYS 455 Winter Schedule

8 Jan (Mon) Winter term classes begin

19 Jan (Fri) Bi-weekly Report #5 Due

2 Feb (Fri) Bi-weekly Report #6 Due

16 Feb (Fri) Bi-weekly Report #7 Due

19-23 Feb Reading Week

2 Mar (Fri) Deadline for submission of thesis and executive summary (4:00 pm in Physics Office Rm205)

7 Mar (Wed) Preliminary schedule for final presentations posted

19 – 22 Mar Oral presentations(Mon - Thurs)

5 Apr (Fri) Winter term classes end

Your plan should be to...

• Set aside ~4-5 hours/week for only 455• get as much done as you can EARLY

TERM 1• first few weeks in background research• last few weeks focussing in on what you think your design should be and how you plan to approach it.• Your exec summary & presentation should state your goal, a brief background and outline your approach to a specific design.

TERM 2• work on your specific design, drawings, specifications, details, etc.• costing• final report/exec summary and presentation.

Your faculty supervisor...

• Acts as your chief engineer:• may know nothing about your topic• is NOT there to ‘help’• asks questions

“what have you done this week?”“why are you looking at this option?”“why is this part taking so long?”

• has a good idea of what the ‘board’ expects and will try and steer you in the right direction

• You should meet with her/him once per week (~half-hour)

Assessment

Fall Term Mark - worth 25% overall• Supervisor’s mark (for effort) 8%• Mid-year Report 8%• Mid-year Presentation• Answers to Questions• Attendance 1%

Winter Tem Mark - worth 75% overall:• Final report/thesis• Executive Summary• Final Presentation• Answers to Questions• Supervisor’s mark 24%• Attendance 1%

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• Look over the list, read descriptions, and talk to potential supervisors

• Give me a list of 5 topics that you are interested in by next Tuesday (19 Sept)

• I do not guarantee that you will get one of your 5 “preferred” topics. I try to accommodate everyone, but you may get a topic that you did not choose.

• You can propose your own topic, but it must be approved (by me) and you have to find an internal supervisor that agrees to oversee it. (BEFORE TUESDAY, 19 September).

Topics

Bi-Weekly Reports

• Bi-Weekly Reports are to be submitted (hard copy) to both your supervisor and to the course coordinator (Dr. Morelli).

• Intended in part to help improve your written communication skills.

• Serve as an important method of keeping your supervisor informed of your progress, and will hopefully make your weekly meetings more productive.

•Lay the foundation for your final thesis.

• They will be graded by your supervisor as acceptable/unacceptable.

• Unacceptable reports must be corrected and resubmitted!

•Impacts your “Supervisor’s Mark”.

Other stuff

• See me if you cannot access the PHYS 455 Web site, or if you find any errors.

• A Laptop and a projector will be provided for the oral presentations (using PowerPoint)

- Presentations are to be loaded and tested in advance!!!- a USB memory stick is the safest bet for loading your files.

• See your supervisor or myself about reasonable expenses associated with your thesis.

• Important reminders will be sent out via email. If you are not receiving them, please let me know.