Here I have brought together  wide range of materials that might inform or amuse learners enrolled in the Futurelearn on-line course Through Engineers’ Eyes: Introducing the vision: Engineering Mechanics by Experiment, analysis and design or in its companion course Through Engineers’ Eyes: expanding the vision: Engineering Mechanics by experiment analysis and design.

For example, many of the  Nursery rhymes for petrol heads  involve Engineering Mechanics. There’s a sample below – the history of automotive transmissions in verse.

There are hyperlinks to more examples below.

General

14 reworked nursery rhymes Nursery rhymes for petrol heads

Vehicle behaviour

Statics analysis of a car on a hill in story and verse Engineering Statics in story and verse: Jamie and the car on a hill

Dimensional analysis applied to vehicle performance Why My Bike Is Like A Truck When It Comes To Climbing Hills?

Stability of a car when negotiating a steep hill (exercise with cardboard  models) Engineering Statics: paper car activity

Power

Meditation on  coal Elegy For Coal Power

History of power production A history of power production in eight limericks

What Newton wrote for Lex II – the jingle version

Newton’s 2nd law: Jingles

Aluminium gliders

Aluminium Gliders Gliders from an aluminium can

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A sample nursery rhyme for petrol-heads to show you the style.

I have added the original version in case you are not familiar with it.

Transmission history
(Oranges and lemons)

First into second
As the rev limit beckoned

Don’t mind the clash dears
Said the brutal old crash gears

Gentler is wiser
Said the cone synchroniser

I too thought so
Said the slush-pump auto

I change gears swifter
Said the slick twin-clutch shifter

I disagree
Said the smooth CVT

Here is a headlamp to light up a sign
Here comes a camera to serve you a fine

Original version

Oranges and lemons
Say the bells of St Clemons

You owe me five farthings
Say the bells of St Martins

When will you pay me
Say the bells of Old Bailey

When I grow rich
Say the bells of Shoreditch

When will that be
Say the bells of Stepney

I do not know
Says the great bell of Bow

Here is a candle to light you to bed
Here comes a chopper to chop off your head