Define The Problem
A school district is concerned that students are not staying hydrated during the school day. Students report that water bottles leak in backpacks, damaging books and devices. The district wants to address hydration and leakage issues during the school day.
Which statement BEST defines the problem?
A. Students need water bottles that hold 500 mL and do not leak
B. Students are not drinking enough water and water bottles often leak in backpacks, causing damage
C. Water bottles must not leak when tipped sideways
D. Students should carry fewer items
B. Students are not drinking enough water and water bottles often leak in backpacks, causing damage
Which is a constraint?
A. Must hold 10 books
B. Must be stable
C. Only 4 sheets of paper allowed
D. Must be strong
C. Only 4 sheets of paper allowed
Which best describes scientific knowledge used in engineering?
A. Ideas based on personal opinions about what works best as a solution
B. Information that has been tested and supported by evidence
C. The first idea engineers think of
D. Predictions that are never tested
B. Information that has been tested and supported by evidence
What is scientific knowledge?
Information scientists have learned through observations, experiments, and evidence.
Students crossing a busy road near the school are at risk during arrival and dismissal times. Cars move quickly through the area, and visibility is limited, especially during high-traffic periods. School officials are concerned about student safety when crossing the street.
Which statement BEST defines the problem?
A. Students need a safer way to cross a busy road during high-traffic times when visibility and traffic speed create safety risks
B. Drivers should slow down near schools
C. Students crossing a busy road near the school are at risk during arrival and dismissal times.
D. Students must cross in groups of 30 or more
C. Students crossing a busy road near the school are at risk during arrival and dismissal times.
Which is a criterion?
A. Only tape allowed
B. Must hold weight evenly
C. 15-minute time limit
D. Only paper allowed
B. Must hold weight evenly
Which source is MOST reliable for engineering research?
A. A social media post about what “feels strong”
B. A friend’s opinion about bridges
C. Data from controlled testing of similar designs
D. A guess based on experience
C. Data from controlled testing of similar designs
What is a model in science and engineering?
A smaller version used to test an idea before making the final product
Teachers have noticed that students are frequently late to class and often drop or lose materials while moving between classrooms. Students report difficulty carrying multiple books, notebooks, and supplies efficiently.
Which statement BEST defines the problem?
A. Students are not managing their materials effectively, leading to delays and lost or dropped items during class transitions
B. Students must carry at least 5 items at once
C. Lockers are too small for student use
D. Students should carry fewer books between classes
A. Students are not managing their materials effectively, leading to delays and lost or dropped items during class transitions
Which is a constraint?
A. Must be durable
B. Must look nice
C. Budget is $5
D. Must be tall
C. Budget is $5
Engineers use scientific principles when designing structures. Which statement is the BEST example of a scientific principle?
A. “Bridges should look nice in cities”
B. “Blue bridges are stronger than red bridges”
C. “Triangles help distribute force”
D. “Long bridges are always better than short ones"
C. “Triangles help distribute force”
What is engineering?
Using science, math, and technology to solve real-world problems by designing and improving solutions.
A local park has experienced an increase in slip-and-fall accidents during rainy weather. The walking paths become slick when wet, creating safety concerns for visitors of all ages who use the park year-round.
Which statement BEST defines the problem?
A. Walking paths must use non-slip materials to decrease slip-and-fall accidents during rainy weather
B. Visitors should walk more carefully when it rains
C. An increase in slip-and-fall accidents during rainy weather
D. The park should close during rainy weather
C. An increase in slip-and-fall accidents during rainy weather
Which is a criterion?
A. Must fit in backpack
B. Only scissors allowed
C. Only 2 sheets of paper
D. 20-minute build time
A. Must fit in backpack
A team is designing a bridge and wants to make sure it is strong enough to hold weight. They look at past experiments where different bridge designs were tested with increasing loads until failure.
Why is this source useful?
A. It is based on opinions from engineers, which they can use to make decisions. B. It provides data from previous tests that can guide design decisions C. It shows what bridge colors people prefer
D. It replaces the need for testing, since the testing has already been done.
B. It provides data from previous tests that can guide design decisions
What are scientific principles?
Rules and ideas that explain how the natural world works.
A school cafeteria produces large amounts of waste each day. Recycling bins are available, but they are often used incorrectly, leading to contamination of recyclable materials and increased landfill waste.
Define the problem in the above paragraph.
Recycling bins are being used incorrectly causing more waste.
A school is designing a small garden. The garden must fit in a 10 ft by 10 ft space. Students can only use plants that are safe for school environments, and the project must be completed in one week.
Question:
What are the constraints in this design problem? What are the criteria?
Constraints: Students can only use plants that are safe for school environments, and the project must be completed in one week.
Criteria: The garden must fit in a 10 ft by 10 ft space.
A team is designing a model bridge and needs to decide which material will make the strongest structure. They find several sources: a friend’s opinion about what “feels strong,” a popular video showing a bridge breaking, a science article with results from controlled load-testing experiments, and a blog post with personal guesses about bridges.
Which source is MOST reliable for their engineering research?
A science article with results from controlled load-testing experiments
What does evidence-based mean?
Making decisions using facts, observations, and data.