Reverse Engineering

“Apart from the homework that I have given you for the summer vacation you will also have to make a working prototype of a solar cookers and a windmill. Since most of your parents are Engineers they will help you in this project. Final grade will have 20 marks assigned to these projects.” This was told to us with a sinister smile on our physics teachers face just like the one on Prof Snape face from Harry Potter series. The bell rang and we shot out of the room with full zeal and enthusiasm for the summer vacations that started along with the bell of the last period. The summer vacation was fun. Collecting leaves for the Herbarium file, making models of windmill and solar cooker, learning new things in the summer vacation camp, meeting grand parents, cartoons, no getting up early and so on so forth. Irritatingly though the summer vacations came to a grinding halt as soon as it started. With so much fun nobody of us saw the days flying by and only realized it once they flew by.

School began and so did the lame excuses of not doing any of the homework. Many of us were seen standing outside the class, punished for not completing the homework. In this whole commotion of lame excuse and teacher scolding one thing was amazing. Everyone had brought the solar cooker they were supposed to make. Big boxes with glass mirror on the lid and couple of utensils inside. Some of the utensils had name on it. Maybe those kids mom were sure that they will lose the utensils. Most of us got graded average as it had very little option of improvement. (at least, as per us.) Still there were few who had shown there creativity streak. One of the girls had painted the box Pink from inside out (which by the way is generally black to absorb heat) that was not it. It also sported Barbie with lots of attires and poses. But mostly they were same. One box, glass, mirror and utensils with names on it. That was day one. Next day it was windmills turn.

Engineering [en-juh-neer-ing] (Online Dictionary)

Noun:

1. The art or science of making practical application of the knowledge of pure sciences, as physics or chemistry, as in the construction of engines, bridges, buildings, mines, ships, and chemical plants.

This word came into play when we got the windmills to school. Almost all were different. As if each and everyone of us had a go at the windmill with our parents helping us. Some were quite elaborate. With windmill, field, houses, transmission lines etc. but the windmill was a cardboard cut out. So didn’t count. We were asked to make a working model!!!! Our Barbie loving girl had done it again. She had a windmill with a well and Barbie posing beside the well. One of the windmills had made in India tag. There were many more engineering examples.

AJ also did a similar thing like mine. He had the windmill shaft connected to a big wheel (some house hold containers cap). This cap was connected to a small DC motor with rubber-band. One end of the motor was then connected to a bulb and the other end of both motor and bulb was open. The description he gave was the windmill will turn the big wheel, which in turn will turn the motor. This will generate electricity for the bulb and a battery to be connected to the open ends so that it gets charged. In short our teacher was quite impressed. So she asked him to demonstrate it as he claimed it to be a working model.

Reverse Engineering (Online Dictionary)

Verb :

(Used with object) to study or analyze (a device, as a microchip for computers) in order to learn details of design, construction, and operation, perhaps to produce a copy or an improved version.

He smartly took out a battery from his pocket, then simultaneously connected the battery with the open ends of the wire and blew air to the wind mill. And as he had described the windmill turned, turning the wheel then the motor and surely the bulb lit up. With loud clapping our teacher stood up. Chap got an alpha++ grade. Highest grade ever!

What happened that day was a good example of reverse engineering in a crooked way. Well because what actually happened was just the opposite of what our teacher perceived. The battery when linked with the open ends completed the circuit lighting up the bulb and turning the motor. This turned the big wheel and then the windmill. Reverse of what should have happened and so reverse engineering. We all had a good laugh after the class and for quite some time we had this definition of the word and not the actual one described about in the post.