What is Engineering?: Crash Course Engineering #1

In our first episode of Crash Course Engineering, Shini explains what engineering is, and gives a brief overview of its four main branches (civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical) as well as a look at some of the other fields of engineering.
Crash Course Engineering is produced in association with PBS Digital Studios: • All PBS Digital Studio...
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RESOURCES:
www.britannica.com/technology...
www.dictionary.com/browse/engi...
enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/...
www.britannica.com/technology...
www.britannica.com/technology...
www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-...
me.columbia.edu/what-mechanica...
www.britannica.com/technology...
www.livescience.com/44186-who...
www.britannica.com/technology...
www.acs.org/content/acs/en/ca...
www.livescience.com/47499-wha...
www.livescience.com/48134-wha...
www.livescience.com/47702-aer...
www.livescience.com/47749-nuc...
www.livescience.com/48001-bio...
time.com/money/4920319/the-1-c...
www.forbes.com/sites/karstens...
“The Story of Engineering” by James Kip Finch. Anchor Books, 1960.
***
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[@RealEngineering]

Woo it has finally begun!

[@the_kraken6549]

Hi *Real Engineering* ur awesome!

[@ColonizerChan]

Nice

[@danieldanieldadada]

Flaming Basketball Club not for you do drugs

[@DreadKyller]

+Flaming Basketball Club both channels tend to discuss different areas of engineering, both of them are good in their own right and I don't feel calling one better than the other would be proper, they have their own formats, and talk about their own topics. Practical Engineering tends to talk mostly about Civil engineering, construction, environmental and material sciences. Real Engineering tends to talk about a wide variety of different engineering fields, and seems to have a focus on topics that relate to physics, chemistry, aerospace, and electromechanical fields.

[@moopara7991]

Flaming Basketball Club everything is worth learning, but if you enjoy solving problems and comming up with solutions, engineering might be for you. But be careful... you might start enjoying math..

[@PracticalEngineeringChannel]

Very good description. Looking forward to the rest of the series!

[@engibear6392]

*Oh, hey. Fancy meeting you here.* *(Not that I've ever used this account on your channel)*

[@joshbobst1629]

Oh, yeah. Hey, Practical Engineering. I should have guessed you'd show up. Love your concrete series.

[@samovarmaker9673]

+Flaming Basketball Club Definitely is if you're interested in it, although it depends where you live (some places may not have jobs; although you'll be fine if you don't mind moving around to different countries).

[@uss_04]

Fancy meeting you here. “Practical” and “Real”, lol

[@seallyolme]

Practical Engineering omg

[@treymedley]

Big Disclaimer: Yes everyone should watch this to learn about engineering, but before you commit to engineering yourself, you should either a) love math(s) quite a lot or b) think you could learn to love math(s) quite a lot. I've seen too many first and second year students crash and burn because they think of engineering more as a creative art and less as a mathematical science. To be sure, engineering has feet in both worlds, but it slants much more heavily toward mathematics.

[@flexibleriyah2785]

Thanks for stating the obvious. 👏👏😉

[@carmaker2]

I started studying mechanical engineering, but I quit because I love so much math and physics that I need more, so I'm studying physics now.

[@Nohandle4me2]

Thanks for the heads up

[@Yassininstinct]

and what if it is the opposite way? can i start to love engineering?

[@niaverma3546]

as a student who is just going to be choosing their classes in high school, i think i found your comment at a rather good time. i haven't been perfectly efficent at math since i was a kid, but do you think i could handle the pressure of the indian school system while also practicing enough math to start loving it? do you think that coyld be possible for me? seeing that i like math already, will it be easy to improve on it faster too?

[@nickrajewski7563]

Awww Computer Engineers... The ever forgotten awkward middle child of computer science and electrical engineering.

[@MrGoDuck]

Not to mention software engineering :(

[@DTEBVGZ]

@@MrGoDuck booooo :D

[@HollywoodF1]

@@MrGoDuck Unlike Computer Engineers, Software designers are not engineers. Computer engineers deal with electrons and elements and magnetism and real science stuff. Software designers design, write, and implement programs on someone else's computer. Unlike all the other real engineers mentioned here, software designers do not make use of fundamental scientific precepts to solve their problems. Ohm's Law, Hooke's Law, the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics, The Law of Conservation of Mass & Energy, the Four Fundamental Forces of the Universe. All engineering disciplines use some combination of these and others. Software designers use none. And no state in the country licenses them, either.

[@zachstar]

This was much needed!

[@rparl]

At MIT, we called the Business students Money Engineers.

[@intensity67]

more like the precise definition should be financial engineers. xD

[@ph11p3540]

Economy sorcerers.

[@Thomasfrank]

So glad to see this series become a reality!

[@randomthoughts2820]

Hey Tom! What have you studied?

[@beccaboyd9258]

I'm a high school student right now looking into engineering, specifically nuclear engineering. Even though I'm kind of bad at math. But this series is really good! It's helping me with looking into this stuff :)

[@RandallStephens397]

I'm an engineer. That means I solve problems. Not problems like "what is beauty?" because that would fall under your purview of conundrums of philosophy. I solve practical problems.

[@joshbobst1629]

All right, this is the second time this quote has appeared in the comments. I'm googling it.

[@yodaadoy2863]

Vere is mah sandvich!? Tf2 quotes at its finest

[@bjarnestronstrup9122]

Put dispenser here!

[@Kenneth_the_Philosopher]

Well, you statement assumes that engineering problems and philosophical problems are not related, which is not true. It is not true is because how a culture answers the question what is beauty has far reaching implications on engineering design principles from which solutions to engineering problems derived from.

[@ericmoreno6260]

Do you have to be creative to be a engineer?

[@SkywalkerAni]

Hey look, buddy. I'm an engineer. That means I solve problems.

[@AlRoderick]

Not problems like, what is beauty. Because that falls within the purview of your conundrums of philosophy.

[@SkywalkerAni]

I solve practical problems.

[@TheTariqibnziyad]

SkywalkerAni you mean "real" problems

[@angeldude101]

For example: how I gonna stop some big mean mother-hubbard from tearing me a structurally superfluous new behind?

[@carrot92]

SkywalkerAni and the technicians will fix your mistakes

[@bibarrel5111]

I'm about to graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering. The last 5 years of my life have been dedicated to learning what it truly takes to become an engineer. I wish that this series started earlier but I am glad that this series has started now and I hope it inspires those who are willing to spend the time and effort learning to take on whatever field of engineering they want.

[@Lit-E]

I love the way she says "some pretty fantastic inventions," makes me feel as if im about to enter into a new creative, adventurous and imaginative new way of thinking

[@AbuZahi]

Yay! I'm an electrical engineer and I cannot wait for the next episodes. I love your channel, guys! Keep the amazing work coming.

[@axcieom]

7:05 The design team really needs a raise.

[@dananabread6632]

Fascinating stuff! Absolutely adore this series. It's so inspiring to see a woman like you in engineering. Thank you so much for this!

[@testitestmann8819]

As a computer engineer, I'm happy to finally find out what I do :-D

[@Humble2A]

Yo I’m a high school student that’s interested in engineering so I was really happy you made this video🙏🏾

[@BlueTyphoon7]

Engineering is when I place a teleporter behind blu base and a mini sentry right infront of their spawn door then running away calling for a medic (sorry, I had to)

[@AlhamRana]

thank you, now I can do something with my life..

[@kimberlyw2591]

IM ABOUT TO BE IN MY 3RD YEAR OF ENGINEERING SCHOOL AND IVE BEEN HOPING FOR THIS SERIES SINCE 11TH GRADE!!!! THANK YOU CRASH COURSE

[@HereBeDragonsYT]

I was a land surveyor for a civil engineer for 15 years. It's a truly fascinating field. I'm really looking forward to this series.

[@AkosSam]

11/10 for the Pokemon analogy.

[@ownall201]

I'm so excited for this series!!! I'm currently a pre-chemical engineering major. I'm stuck between switching to civil or environmental engineering.

[@yasminceleste3844]

I can’t wait for the next episode! As I’m going to uni next year to study Mechanical Engineering, it’s fascinating.

[@thinker8682]

As a student of Chemical Engineering, I'm very excited for this series.

[@loorthedarkelf8353]

So psyched for this series! I also love our new presenter. Her presence is great and her voice is a pleasure to listen to.

[@mattkuhn6634]

Oh man, I love the version of the crash course theme for this series already! Looking forward to the rest of the series!

[@adamgordon9128]

This is great and I’m very thankful that this now exists as I would love to learn more about engineering as a whole. Keep up the good work!

[@ashtonc1]

I’m really looking forward to this series

[@drewbishop1867]

Finally! Been waiting for this forever!

[@RyanStar10023]

What great timing! I am just about to start college and needed a reminder of why I chose to pursue engineering. Thanks, CrashCourse! looking forward to this one :)

[@lokehagberg6077]

It was reuploaded because they needed to engineer the video a little

[@youtubingjaguar5082]

*XD* That was a *cleverly engineered* and *civilly structured* joke. ;)

[@lokehagberg6077]

Youtubing Jaguar Thank you ;)

[@youtubingjaguar5082]

You're welcome. I saw what you did and *expanded* upon your *blueprint* for us to *engineer* these *structured* jokes. ;)

[@LuisSierra42]

haha, this conversation has been very well engineered

[@lokehagberg6077]

I just tried to *construct* it as a quality joke, trying to be *innovative* you know

[@nathanstaple889]

Perfect timing, about to enter into a degree with Civil Engineering, very excited to watch full series!

[@dr.sunshine8009]

You guys do the most important job of our century!! Thank you for providing this tremendous value

[@georgiosapostolides1944]

A big thank you for this series!! Finally!!

[@diegosanchez894]

I was binging the philosophy series, but I'm planning to study engineering, so this series started at just the right time.

[@msmagt25]

Love it, I wish I could have this videos when I was studying!

[@jyotsnavarkey1482]

We got our own crash course of sorts!

[@jr52990]

This is awesome. Now I can finally get refreshed on what I forgot over the last 3 years.

[@xoknivesxo]

MechE/AeroE major here. So glad to see Shini in this series. Absolutely loved her in the physics videos.

[@damianmatras8568]

Good introduction to different branches of engineering, clearly shown structure and easy-to-take-in information. Can't wait to see future videos.

[@TurboFNIS]

I absolutely love these engineering series! Will you guys do a video on Maritime Engineering in these series?

[@eliasgallegos3058]

This is amazing! I was just thinking about this, and was wondering if i should study it! You just answered most if not all of my questions about engineering in general!

[@VAM_Physics_and_Engineering]

Nicely broken down. Looking forward to the rest of this series. Keep up the good work.

[@SkywalkerAni]

Seriously, though, I'm pumped for this series!

[@Eastsideza]

I’m so bad at math like it hurts that I’m here looking at how to become an engineer

[@ph11p3540]

I wish to see more engineering related stuff on KZbin instead of all the flat earth and conspiracy nut job garbage. Engineering and physics subjects are comfort food for my intellect.

[@ModernMcDonald]

Thank you so much! Im going to start studying chemical engineering as a freshman next year and this couldn’t have come at a better time !

[@wgmyler]

Watching this series with my 5 yr old son and 3 yr old daughter to supplement our home-school program. Thank you for this!

[@juliahill3912]

starting as an environmental engineering student in September !!

[@saqlainsiddiqui7170]

awesomepplz 1990 best wishes to you from a civil engineering student :)

[@letsgetiton99]

now how r u today?

[@ultramarine2508]

@@letsgetiton99 She died while attempting to pursue her dreams. She tripped on the way to class and snapped her neck.

[@harbinger4111]

I have a feeling this is going to be as good as the one about space

[@kingdoggie5231]

This channel is an accurate representation of what this age of internet offers. For people with creative and innovative minds, is the best thing. I honestly feel that people don't appreciate the recourses of the internet enough because this is enough to jump start a young mind to pursue what he/she wants in life

[@guilhermesapuda9538]

I just love this new series. I've started studying Material Engineering!

[@hugo3144]

as a first year mechnical engineering student im looking forward to learning about all the equations i was supposed to understand but never did

[@lapillity]

woo! industrial engineering! that's what I'm going to be majoring in next year and I'm so excited :) love this series so far

[@nikhilgopal6075]

2nd year industrial engineering student here, you're gonna love it :D

[@shr6482]

2nd year computer engineering student and i hv to admit, i freakin love my programme! I learn both hardware and software.

[@tiwinee]

I'm so happy to have her back, I really like her !!! ♥

[@jackieway3305]

I'm currently a biology major but recently I found out that bioengineering was a thing, and I've been getting more interested in other fields of engineering. I'm looking forward to the next episodes!

[@gonzalezm244]

Yes! Mechanical Engineer in the making here :)

[@Quokkat7]

Thank you to all the behind the scenes folks that make CC possible! Thank you , thank you, thank you!

[@a.mused22]

this is the channel i has been looking for years!! An easy approach to all the knowledge of the world.

[@raigner]

As a Mechatronics Engineer myself I have to say she forgot that there are 2 main kinds of engineering fuel: beer and coffee xD

[@TWD_fan-lz8gw]

I’m here for homework 😂

[@robhousehold]

Sweet! Great work! Can't wait for the next episode!

[@aif1992]

these keep getting better and better

[@ganaraminukshuk0]

I wonder where software engineering and computer engineering go, then. I'm guessing one is more computer science and the other overlaps with electrical engineering.

[@francismerjudio8262]

There seems to be quite the overlap in those areas, as you said. One thing I use for guidance is the white papers released by the international organization, Association for Computing Machinery. While the likes of IEEE-CS has interests in computing, it is ACM that seems to actually definitive statements in that area, publishing curriculum guidelines on what students should learn in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information technology and information systems programs, with some inputs provided by IEEE-CS

[@user-hi7ze4bt8r]

Software engineering is the bastard child of computer science and computer engineering.

[@1101Archimedes]

Bastard? What, are CS and CE not married?

[@user-hi7ze4bt8r]

1101Archimedes of course not! They are cousins and they are not from Alabama.

[@doctormo]

I had the same question; I consider myself an engineer of software, not a scientist or a mathematician. It's design and problem solving, not applied maths. I actually loved the programming crash course as it was rigorous as walking through how problems were solved as a matter of design. A link to that course would have been nice.

[@chevanecooke]

Crash course you guys rock

[@busteronlyfullscreenmode]

Man I am psyched! I just started learning about electronics in order to start constructing synth DIYs and have thus become more interested in amateur engineering. Such convenient timing; I'm looking forward to this!

[@LoopDoc]

Love the energy, examples given, and well spoken lady. Thanks. It sounds fun.

[@pci_ethan]

Would give 5 stars, lol good video I will watch the entire series thank you.

[@anjel-_-2592]

I wanna be this when I grow up a computer engineering I’ve been wanting to do this as a kid and am already achieving my goal

[@yvette9647]

I'm a junior in high school and I'm in the a mechanical engineering class which has expanded my view. I'm extremely excited for this series to unravel because I want to see what my major could possible be !

[@idontdoquiet22]

I'm so excited for this series! I'm marrying an industrial engineer in a couple months and I've been so fascinated with his field!

[@dextrian]

Ironically that is exactly how it works.... Find a Blob....Fight it? no ... try to communicate with it? no... maybe ask someone what the blob is about? no... Lets poke the blob wth a pen and see how it reacts !!! Thats true enginnering there XD, well done.

[@BrownPotato2000]

I'm an engineer; can confirm.

[@Henry-xb2hr]

Going into first year of engineering this fall, hopefully I chose the right degree

[@TigreDemon]

I never seen one of your videos, but as soon as you started speaking I smiled and was instantly captivated ! It was extremely instructive !

[@rogerdotlee]

YAY!!! Yet Another Crash Course that feeds into my obsessions. Seriouusly. And it's good to see The Good Doctor has returned! I've missed not seeing her since CC Physics.

[@ArchiduquesaMA]

I think you should definitely do a video about software engineering considering software is used in every devise ever. Every invention needs a software. And also a very high paid and needed work in today’s corporations. Even as a early student, you can get a job as a developer or a software tester and earn thousands.

[@themooserabbitchannel14]

Thx for this vid I would love to be a engineer when I grow up

[@potatotomato2457]

Can't wait for next week!

[@aisling664]

Finally an engineering series! I work in manufacturing for an engineering company. It’s sad that I don’t know what my products are used for. Hoping to gain some insight & maybe enjoy my job more!

[@TheTwick]

Glad to see you back, Shini. Looking forward to another great learning experience with you.

[@fezii9043]

^

[@leto1963]

Already loving this series!

[@EM-ih6lw]

This is a very excellent learning channel for young and old users. If you're new to this channel i recommend to watch this.

[@jusjaisinghani8179]

A great description of engineering, good to see you back !

[@anti_MATT_er]

Third year mechanical engineering student here.

[@slothbear6158]

4th year chemical :P also combat engineer

[@tajwarhaque12345]

Matt Nguyen I’m going to start my First year this September haha

[@petitjesusdepaname1191]

same

[@gamesmaster1998]

2nd year aero

[@mateussousa7181]

I'm going to start eletrical engineering

[@malacki6554]

When I’m older I want to be an aerospace engineer

[@pucakee8093]

Me too man

[@themac9677]

Excellent choice man. I'm just about to transfer and start my upper division. Aero is the future

[@milap8989]

Bro, me too Space

[@mely1056]

Me too !!!

[@justarandomgal2683]

My mom is a Aero engineer and became more of an electrical engineer later. So, you don't necessarily have to go back to school do switch to another field of engineering. My mom did not. You can even get an undergraduate degree in one field and a graduate degree in another field if you want to go to grad school later on.

[@noahcarriere5794]

I AM SO HYPED FOR THIS SERIES

[@creativityjune3591]

This is the best explanation of what engineering is vs what science is that I’ve come across

[@justmehannahbee4043]

I love it

[@scrubninja6]

Was that a TF2 reference at 7:04?

[@angelo686]

I really looking forward to this series. I'm planning of majoring in electrical engineering and then getting my Masters in Biomedical engineering. So this series came at the perfect time for me!! I have about 10 more classes to go before I can start! Wish me luck!!

[@SouthernersSax]

Thanks for the nod to industrial engineering. Mechanical, electrical, chemical, and civil engineers dream up amazing things, and *we* make them happen.

[@jerryskeepero]

I am a Civil Engineer and I really enjoyed this

[@HereBeDragonsYT]

Jerryskeeper O Land Surveyor here

[@saqlainsiddiqui7170]

Jerryskeeper O finally found a fellow civil engineer :)

[@numanh8391]

im studying civil is it more stress and less paid job😦?

[@jerryskeepero]

numan hussain it is a stressful job BUT one of the most well paid jobs in engineering. Topped only by computer engineering. Then again civil is WAY more stable.

[@numanh8391]

Jerryskeeper O ahh relief thanks a lot mate

[@jdiaz813]

We injuneers are bad spellerz but great solverz lol

[@TheLe016]

Well, it's about time! This is what I've been waiting for...

[@anachavez9852]

So excited. Absolute unit

[@manualdidact]

I like to think of science as a discipline born from an aspect of philosophy, and continuing to be refined by it as scientific philosophers work out what science should mean and how we should carry it out (eg. Karl Popper, etc). It appeals to me as very similar and analogous, how engineering seems in turn to have been a product of science, and is also continually fed from the fruits of scientific discovery.

[@joshbobst1629]

I'm with you. But scientists don't like to be reminded science is a branch of philosophy!

[@comb528491]

there's that one old saying, "Without Engineering, Science is just philosophy"

[@stevenoberfeld6758]

Please! Do more than 40 episodes!!! I will watch them all!! I swear!!! You are not only educating me, but you are priming my mind to help understand everything I am learning in my classes. You guys make it more fun... I know its childish, but it is what I need to help me fully understand what I am learning and my goal is to leave the world in a better state than I entered it... That's not gonna be easy and I could use all the help I can get. Thank you for what you are already helping with anyways. Seriously

[@saqlainsiddiqui7170]

Steven Oberfeld that's like how I felt too :) I'm a civil engineering student. What branch are you in?

[@stevenoberfeld6758]

Saqlain Siddiqui that's the hard part for me. I will start with mechanical and electrical engineering and if I am successful enough I will continue with some of the other engineering branches. My biggest goal is to use my engineering skills to solve some problems in this world, which will be complicated because that will involve money. I have none. If I am going to change the world for the better, than I have to protect my inventions and innovations from investors who would seek to make a profit off of what I create or improve. I intend to provide my skills, services and creations to help people who otherwise would not be able to afford it for nothing and charge the people who can afford it ridiculous prices. Its time to show the rich that they don't deserve what they have, that if they do deserve it they would be doing more for the world and less for themselves and to show the poor that people care about them and notice thier potential and that they lack resources and opportunity. Along with engineering I am pursuing a degree in ethics. I don't believe people understand what morality is so that has to be worked on too. I cannot hope to actually change anything by creating something that is ripe for the picking when I die. If the world revolved around equality I wouldn't have to worry about it so much, but I don't want the things that I make to help the world be a better place, to be used to make it worse.

[@saqlainsiddiqui7170]

Steven Oberfeld wow man, that's very noble of you! Wish there were more people like you. Best wishes to you so that you can achieve your goals and serve people. You said you'll start with mechanical and electrical. But is it possible to do 2 departments at the same time?

[@stevenoberfeld6758]

Saqlain Siddiqui I appreciate the compliment but I am just like everyone else and I am just as confused about life as everyone else. I just refuse to succeed by taking advantage of others less fortunate than me. Most people don't see it that way and that's fine. I don't believe in an afterlife but I do not want to explain my selfishness to God if there is one, nor do I intend to allow others to suffer in this life especially if there is no afterlife. I do not know if it is practical to entertain two fields of study, but it should certainly be possible. Ethics is philosophy and philosophy can help expand thought. It can also help me aim at what to fix in this world as an engineer.

[@stevenoberfeld6758]

Saqlain Siddiqui its also important to remember, all engineers help to make the world a better place. It just depends on what thier view of a better world is. We are the artists and the universe is our canvas, what it is and what it will be outside of what will happen naturally, is dependant upon engineers.

[@rickson50]

extremely interested! can't wait for more in the series.

[@allknowledge7146]

This.... I've been waiting so long for this...