Overview

One of the commonest ways of solving problems in engineering practice is by laboratory experiment. We will examine some of the reasons for this. Work in the laboratory (that is, with physical equipment) is usually an important part of your early experience, and it will continue to be important to you in one way or another as your career develops.

There are few indifferent engineers in the matter of laboratory work. Most engineers are either very fond of working with physical equipment or dislike it heartily. The first group would use the laboratory to solve just about every problem encountered. The second is convinced that analytical solutions are the only respectable parts of engineering problem solving.

Actually neither group is very near the truth. Laboratory work, like any other engineering procedure, is a means to an end. It is only one specific tool to be used for solving engineering problems. Like any other tool, it has its best applications and is to be employed with discrimination. You will want to examine this tool, determine its characteristics, learn what its best uses and limitations are, and see what you can do to keep it sharp and effective.

It is possible, though usually awkward, for a beginning engineer to avoid much laboratory work. Naturally some will enjoy laboratory work more than others and be more successful at it. Even though you may be one of the few who will succeed in your profession without real laboratory talent, you will want to...