creative engineering design
For this project we were ask to put our engineering caps on and come up with a problem to solve. My problem ending up being, the problems that split ends create. With this in mind we got into groups that agreed with us or had similar issues, and together we would work to come up with a plan solve it. In my group we decided to mainly focus on the split end itself. I know what your thinking, what a bunch of drama lamas, but it is an issue that should be solved. Split ends or Trichoptilosic, is the splitting or fraying of a hair shaft due to excessive heat and mechanical stress. In our group we (in our minds) created a leave in condition solution called Sholyn. Sholyn would act as a band aide an fuse the split ends together and form a protective keratin layer over the hair shaft. It would have to be used about once every 2-4 weeks. Some of the reasons behind my group choosing our problem to be split ends, is the fact that they make your hair look unhealthy and that if the shaft were to split up to the scalp it would not be very good. I don't really know what would happen if that were to happen but nothing good can come out of it. With this project I learned a lot about how we should take care of our hair and why.
Content
In this project we were asked to put on our engineering caps. In doing so that meant that we had to solve our problem using the engineering design cycle, which had about 9 steps to it. The fist step in the cycle is to identify the need. In our group our problem was our need, which was the dreaded split ends. The second step to the engineering design cycle is to research the problem. In doing this I learned so much about hair itself. The hair shaft had 3 main parts to it, the fibers cuticle which consist of many layers of flat thin cells that overlap each other like roof shingles on the outside of the hair shaft. The Cortex is made up of keratin bundle's in a cellular structure, and it is roughly road like on the inside of the hair shaft. The last part is the medulla which is a disorganized and open area at fibers center. The reasons a hair shaft splits is because the outermost keratin layer is weakened, making it prone to splitting. Some reasons for this happening is, heat damage from blow dryers, curling iron and any other heat treatment. Also excessive application of hair products such as perms and hair coloring strip away the keratin layer too. An interesting fact about hair is that it is made up of 16 of the 20 amino acids. The third step is to develop possible solutions. Are solutions were to create a leave in conditioner with keratin and the 16 amino acids to help mend the split end. Our other solution was to designed a medium sized boar brush with flexible bristles, to help in making sure the hair shaft doesn't split because your ripping out your hair with your brush. The fourth step is to develop the most promising solution. Our most promising solution was the leave in conditioner, it made more sense to do so because we are trying to solve the problem. The fifth step was to construct a prototype, which we really couldn't actually do. Instead we decided to make prototypes of a hair shaft and what it looked like when it was split, what was happening to it when you used Sholyn, and the final result. That was the last step that me and my group did. the next steps that would follow after are, communicate the design, redesign, and finally step 9 would be to repeat.
Reflection
In my opinion I think our group did an excellent job. We were limited to what we could do because of the problem we choose, but we ended up doing more than needed. One peak in this project was getting to actually decide what we got to do, I just though that was really great. I mean we got to "solve" the problem of our choice, how cool is that. Another peak was that I got to work in a really awesome group of brilliant females. They were both so nice and open to suggestion that I was always happy to be there. One pit that I had was that we really didn't get to do that much on our problem because we are a high school science class, it is not like we have a lab right around the corner. Another pit I had was I wish that I hadn't freaked out so much when we were presenting. I got nervous and I had a bit of a hard time getting the words to come out of my mouth correctly but other than that I was completely fine. Throughout this project I have learned a lot about hair and how to take care of it. I also learned a lot about the other problems that my classmates got to "solve" and I found each one just as interesting as the next. I hope I can take what I have learned and put it to good use someday.
Content
In this project we were asked to put on our engineering caps. In doing so that meant that we had to solve our problem using the engineering design cycle, which had about 9 steps to it. The fist step in the cycle is to identify the need. In our group our problem was our need, which was the dreaded split ends. The second step to the engineering design cycle is to research the problem. In doing this I learned so much about hair itself. The hair shaft had 3 main parts to it, the fibers cuticle which consist of many layers of flat thin cells that overlap each other like roof shingles on the outside of the hair shaft. The Cortex is made up of keratin bundle's in a cellular structure, and it is roughly road like on the inside of the hair shaft. The last part is the medulla which is a disorganized and open area at fibers center. The reasons a hair shaft splits is because the outermost keratin layer is weakened, making it prone to splitting. Some reasons for this happening is, heat damage from blow dryers, curling iron and any other heat treatment. Also excessive application of hair products such as perms and hair coloring strip away the keratin layer too. An interesting fact about hair is that it is made up of 16 of the 20 amino acids. The third step is to develop possible solutions. Are solutions were to create a leave in conditioner with keratin and the 16 amino acids to help mend the split end. Our other solution was to designed a medium sized boar brush with flexible bristles, to help in making sure the hair shaft doesn't split because your ripping out your hair with your brush. The fourth step is to develop the most promising solution. Our most promising solution was the leave in conditioner, it made more sense to do so because we are trying to solve the problem. The fifth step was to construct a prototype, which we really couldn't actually do. Instead we decided to make prototypes of a hair shaft and what it looked like when it was split, what was happening to it when you used Sholyn, and the final result. That was the last step that me and my group did. the next steps that would follow after are, communicate the design, redesign, and finally step 9 would be to repeat.
Reflection
In my opinion I think our group did an excellent job. We were limited to what we could do because of the problem we choose, but we ended up doing more than needed. One peak in this project was getting to actually decide what we got to do, I just though that was really great. I mean we got to "solve" the problem of our choice, how cool is that. Another peak was that I got to work in a really awesome group of brilliant females. They were both so nice and open to suggestion that I was always happy to be there. One pit that I had was that we really didn't get to do that much on our problem because we are a high school science class, it is not like we have a lab right around the corner. Another pit I had was I wish that I hadn't freaked out so much when we were presenting. I got nervous and I had a bit of a hard time getting the words to come out of my mouth correctly but other than that I was completely fine. Throughout this project I have learned a lot about hair and how to take care of it. I also learned a lot about the other problems that my classmates got to "solve" and I found each one just as interesting as the next. I hope I can take what I have learned and put it to good use someday.