Civil engineers design, build, supervise, operate, and maintain construction projects and systems (such as roads, buildings, airports, dams, etc).
Civil Engineer
Civil Engineer
VIRTUAL JOB SHADOW
Welcome to your first day on the job! Watch this video to see what a day in the life of a civil engineer is like.
A fun way to get started with Civil Engineering is the Marshmallow Challenge. Grab a friend, classmate, or sibling, and try it! Here’s how:
Materials Needed:
- 20 sticks of spaghetti
- An arm’s length of tape
- 5 marshmallows
How to Play:
Set a timer for 15 minutes. Using only the materials above, build the tallest freestanding structure possible. Whoever’s structure is the tallest when the timer goes off wins!
Share a picture of your structure and a summary of how this activity connects to civil engineering in our Student Showcase to build your resume!
PART 2
Civil engineers often deal with the conservation of momentum in structures like bridges and buildings. They use mathematical models to ensure the stability and safety of these structures. Does your marshmallow tower have zero force? Here’s a few clues to help you answer this question:
- A net force of zero, often called “zero force”, is when all the forces acting on an object are balanced.
- Are there any changes in the velocity of your tower? Are there any changes in motion of your tower? Are there any changes in direction of your tower?
- Also keep in mind Newton’s 1st Law.