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Accolades: Walter Banzhaf
Posted 6/13/2005
Walter Banzhaf, professor of electrical engineering, CETA, is presenting two peer-reviewed papers at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference, June 13–15, in Portland, Ore. Both papers have been accepted for inclusion in the Conference Proceedings as well.
The first presentation, “Electrical Fundamentals—Make Them Come Alive for Students,” describes three innovative ways to engage students in what, Banzhaf says, can be a boring subject -- basic electrical theory. One experiment has students construct a resistor by using a pencil to shade in a rectangle on paper, creating a thin-film resistor. This paper resistor is then used as a volume control for an audio amplifier playing music, and introduces the concept of the need for a logarithmic taper of resistance to match the nonlinear response of the human ear.
The second presentation, “High-Voltage Power Lines—WHY?” shows engineering educators a simple but effective classroom demonstration system to present the technical reasons for transmission and distribution lines used by electrical utility companies to bring power to our homes. “The wires under which we drive, and which run down the streets on which we live, carry current at voltages up to 69,000 volts,” Banzhaf says, “and are potentially (pun intended) extremely lethal. The justification for this dangerous but necessary situation is explored, and explained in ways that first-year students can understand.”
For more information about the conference, visit the ASEE web site.
The first presentation, “Electrical Fundamentals—Make Them Come Alive for Students,” describes three innovative ways to engage students in what, Banzhaf says, can be a boring subject -- basic electrical theory. One experiment has students construct a resistor by using a pencil to shade in a rectangle on paper, creating a thin-film resistor. This paper resistor is then used as a volume control for an audio amplifier playing music, and introduces the concept of the need for a logarithmic taper of resistance to match the nonlinear response of the human ear.
The second presentation, “High-Voltage Power Lines—WHY?” shows engineering educators a simple but effective classroom demonstration system to present the technical reasons for transmission and distribution lines used by electrical utility companies to bring power to our homes. “The wires under which we drive, and which run down the streets on which we live, carry current at voltages up to 69,000 volts,” Banzhaf says, “and are potentially (pun intended) extremely lethal. The justification for this dangerous but necessary situation is explored, and explained in ways that first-year students can understand.”
For more information about the conference, visit the ASEE web site.
