If you can solve this, you can be an engineer.

I’m Ali Alqaraghuli, a postdoctoral fellow working on terahertz space communication.

I make videos to train and inspire the next generation of engineers.

The opinions in this video are my own and do not represent NASA or any other organization.

[rayalhar]

I think a lot of people are taking this the wrong way. It's not a litmus test if you can be an engineer or not. It's an example of a problem and how you'd solve it in an "engineering" mindset with applied concepts and knowledge. A lot of people are going "erm, this is not a 400 level orbital mechanics course so this is not applicable yada yada yada". The way he's solving the problem is a pretty watered down version of what you're going to be doing throughout the time in engineering school. In fact the simpler the content the better so more people have an understanding of what they're getting into. For the people complaining you are taking this the wrong way completely and didn't understand the point of this video at all.

[ari-man]

Absolute gigachad liking even hate comments

[Slowlightning]

Why am I watching this as a fourth year engineering student lol. Safe to say I’m in the right place

[shubhayubanerjeedpsn-std]

I agree with the dude saying that a lot of people fail to understand the point of the video. Yes, the title is a little misleading, but the video is solid. He is not asking if you can solve this level of difficulty of question, he is asking/probing how you think about the problem. For a good engineer, is seldom one who remembers all his equations, learns every phenomena, and can solve them well. A good engineer is one who understands how to approach and solve a problem. For in the real world, when you face a problem, you will have all the resources to provide you the formulas, but it is only your intellect that will allow you to use them.

And this is from my humble experience as a student. For building multiple model car and vehicles from complete scratch (not model kits), and encountering and learning from the real world, enabled me to much more capable at handling real-world related problems compared to my mentor who has a degree in engineering and learnt about that stuff from a textbook.

[ivarl]

I'm trying to get into med school. Physics is important in the entry exams and it's not my strong suit, so I'm watching through your videos to help me get a grip on it. Been really helpful so far!

[chiralowl]

I think a better title for the video could be "If you can understand this, you can be an engineer" because you're talking about thinking and understanding the situation thorough and listing the phenomena at action instead of being just a "problem-calculator" of some kind, what a great video

[Ahmed-qqmz]

Your thoughts are only for people who really want to be come great engineers. However, many get into engineering because they just want the degree and then go to business or whatever. Both are ok. the most important thing is to know what you want.

[gregotterstein]

Sorry this problem is not any indication whether or not you could be an engineer. This is high school physics.

[Priya]

Ali is talking about the soul of physics. You can solve physics problem with your way, using formulas and other things, but if you are in totally new problem, then you have to follow the basics, which is he talking about. Physics is also a process, you must know the process

[SpaceNerd-YT]

I love this type of explanation! going back to the basics really helps me understand complex physics concepts. I am attempting a masters in Astrophysics right now and even the most complex formulas and concepts can be explained VERY simply if the concept is understood right. (For example recently I had to write a paper about the process of calculating the gravitational redshift of dense celestial objects specifically black holes using the formula Z+1 = 1/root of 1 - 2GM/rc^2, the formula itself looks complicated but the concept is relatively simple to understand with some general physics background information.)

[transparentworld]

Thank you Dr. Ali you inspire me every time. I will apply for Masters in Electrical Engineering in 2026. I am currently studying Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering Communications. I also have 10 years working experience already as an RF engineer, Telecommunications Network Transmission Engineer, Telepower Engineer with a qualification of Diploma in Telecommunications Systems.

I am inspired by your videos. Please do post more

[JackPullen-Paradox]

(1) A thing is unstable when its center of mass falls outside of the base, so the box has to move at a rate that makes the box remain under the person's center of mass. (2) Inertia will cause the person to be destabilized when the box begins to move. (3) Then there is the question of whether the box will slide down the incline. (4) There is also the question of whether the person will slide off the box. These are the four things that come to mind. I have focused on the phrase, "make the person fall, " and you actually mean something like slide down the incline or off the box.

[normal]

basically the answer is "i dunno", but if you assume that the human's joints are ridgid and he's not trying to balance, and you assume he's more dense than the gas around him then you can assume he's going to fall because his center of mass is so far over his foot. Unless he's like glued to the block or something of course.

[crackersnip]

I guess when i was trying to use intuition to understand why physics equations are the way they are i was doing the right thing, cool to know I could possibly become an engineer one day

[Rogertheripper]

you just changed my perspective about physics i used to pluggin numbers and score good in physics but i think that is not how we enjoy this subject thanks for this wonderful video you just inspired me i hope i become a good engineer and no just a degree holder

[AngloSaks]

0:43 "Professors explain things..."; this is a key point, they would do better by showing you, or better still, by giving you the conditions and a process, with enough challenge, but not too much, and with enough possibility of looking at it from different perspectives, that you see it for yourself. Insight vs. explanation. Learning vs. teaching. Discovery vs. being told.

[zfk]

The first question any engineering or physics student should ask is whether the person and box are point particles or extended bodies (systems of particles). Then they should ask if they are rigid. Then the question is what materials are each of the surfaces comprised of. Then when all of that is done, they should ask why the person is standing on a box on an incline plane to begin with.

[TheStarSailor]

We should consider the chance of toppling as well...

[treeross]

I'm glad my physics professor actually does emphasize this. Same for my EE professor.

[iWillRun_K]

engineer : is gravity, is friction, is mass
me : how drunk is he ?