Engineering Basics
What is engineering mainly focused on solving?
Real-world problems
What are the two main things engineers identify before solving a problem?
Criteria and constraints.
What do engineers often do before building a final product?
Create models or prototypes.
Why do engineers test designs?
To see if they work and meet requirements.
What is a trade-off?
Giving up one benefit to gain another.
What process do engineers use to solve problems and improve designs?
The Engineering Design Process.
What are criteria in engineering?
The goals or requirements a solution must meet.
What should engineers base their decisions on?
Evidence and testing.
What happens after engineers collect test data?
They analyze results and improve the design.
Give one example of a constraint.
Budget, time, materials, or environmental impact.
Name one thing engineers often improve in designs.
Efficiency, safety, cost, function, or reliability.
What are constraints?
Limits like time, cost, materials, or safety.
What is a prototype?
An early model used to test ideas.
What is one example of a design weakness engineers might discover?
Poor efficiency, slow response time, or safety issues.
Why might a stronger material not always be used?
It may cost too much or be too heavy.
Why is there rarely one perfect solution in engineering?
Because every solution has strengths and weaknesses/trade-offs.
Why do engineers break large problems into smaller parts?
To solve them more systematically and effectively.
What must engineers balance when comparing solutions?
Trade-offs and constraints.
What is optimization?
Improving a design to make it perform better.
What can happen if engineers ignore constraints?
The design may fail or become impractical.
What does iteration mean in engineering?
Repeating and improving a design over time.
Why should engineers consider stakeholders?
Because different people are affected by the solution.
Why might the “best” design not always be chosen?
Because of limits like cost, safety, materials, or time.
Why is feedback important in engineering?
It helps engineers revise and improve solutions.
Why do engineers compare multiple solutions?
To find the most effective and realistic design.