Graphics as a learning aid: Developing visual models can be the key to solving difficult engineering problems

Often a student will come to me and say, “I have absolutely no idea how to even start this problem. I'm completely lost. What should I do?” This feeling is not limited to students; I feel this way every time I start a new research problem. The difference between myself and the student is that I've learned why I have that feeling, and thus, I know what I have to do. Invariably, I have to find a way to visualize the problem.