Designing Fluids to Solve Real World Problems

This lesson focuses on the engineering design process, linking it to the research conducted at the Shaqfeh lab at Stanford University, which is investigating the properties of fluids, specifically how they apply to de-wetting surfaces, and designing a new fluid for specific purposes. Students participating in this investigation will follow a similar process. They will begin by conducting lab experiments to learn about various properties of liquids. Students will record their findings and reflect on them in their engineering notebooks. After some class discussion, students will be presented with a real-world problem involving fluids. Working in groups, they will design a solution to this problem which will be shared through a gallery walk. The final product will be an individual report that explains the group's solution which will follow a template and rubric provided in the lesson.