Heat transfer plays a role in daily life for everyone. When you turn on the A/C in your car or home, put ice in a drink to cool it down or even putting layers of clothes on to keep warm in the winter, you are acting in response to some type of heat transfer. It is all around us and I believe everyone should understand the theory behind it.

When working with any type of machinery, we must contend with heat transfer. Heat is created by motors running, electronics and friction between moving parts. Too much heat can cause failures in mechanical and electrical components so as engineers we must be able to evaluate the given situation, understand what is too much heat for area in question, and come up with ways to either limit the heat being produced, move it to another location or dissipate the heat to a non threatening level.

I believe that in the MET 440 class I will be able to gain a basic understanding of how heat transfer works and what affects it. In addition, the class will give me experience in problem solving and using the heat transfer equations to calculate desired heat transfer rates and temperatures.