Mechanical Advantage


An engineer explains the basic physics behind force multiplication. by Mr. James Robertson


A lot of very smart people work in science, technology, engineering and mathematics— STEM. Even for smart people not versed in the STEM fields, that work can seem entirely mysterious, often mind-bogglingly complex. Part of the mystery is the kind of thinking that those fields demand, but a large part is the result of the language used to describe STEM work; those in the STEM fields often speak in technical language that people outside their area of expertise simply don’t understand. But when it comes to Army acquisition, it’s important that taxpayers and members of Congress and their staffs understand STEMspeak, not just because taxpayers have a need and a right to know, but also because it’s really hard to have a conversation when only one party speaks the language.


It’s also important that kids be introduced to STEM pursuits, and that’s a lot easier when those topics are presented in a way that isn’t abstract but in fact solves concrete problems. Even the most complex feats of engineering rely on fundamental concepts we learn as kids, and starting to see the world in terms of these possibilities can be the first step in developing and inspiring budding engineers.


Tis issue’s Technically Speaking author, James Robertson, an engineer who works for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, realized as much when he became a father: How could he instill in his children the same love he has for engineering? His solution was to write a book for young readers, “Durometer O’Meter,” which also is the name of the book’s hero. Durometer is a technical term and method for measuring the hardness of rubber materials and their imperviousness to lasting indentations, which tells us something about the character. Yet it also tells us something about the author’s intentions to make STEMspeak ordinary language for young readers.


ASC.ARMY.MIL 93


SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY


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