For some people, knowing that 21 different government agencies are authorized to gather intelligence data provides them with a sense of security. Others believe that this creates a significant opportunity for duplication of effort and wasted resources. Still others are concerned that everything about them and what they do is known by the government. Choose one side of this issue and defend your position.

Modern high speed trains do not have perpendicular expansion gaps where rails are joined end-to-end any more they are mostly welded together but what might happen if there was a spell of particularly hot weather that causes inspection of the tracks?

An external consultant recommends that a plant installs a bank of capacitors for power factor correction. this will reduce the peak electrical demand charges by an average of 93 kw every month. the plant current pays $13 per kw in peak demand charges. the capacitor bank will include 223 kw of fixed capacitors, and 183 of variable capacitors. the fixed capacitors cost $59 per kw, and the variable capacitors will cost $65 per kw. the consultant charges 21% of the equipment costs to install the capacitors. because this project will reduce the demand for the electric utility, they are prepared to provide a one-time rebate of $42 per kw of reduced demand. what is the simple payback period for this project (in years)?

Analyze the factors that influence the choice between the following pairs of processes to make the products indicated: i) sand casting versus die casting of an electric-motor housing ii) thread rolling versus machining of a bolt for high-strength application. (co3/c5)