Criteria and Constraints
An engineer wants a device to be lightweight and look cool. Criteria or Constrains?
Critieria
What step comes after brainstorming solutions?
Choose or test a design/build prototype
If a table shows battery life and cost, what are engineers doing?
Comparing designs using data
Making something stronger but heavier is an example of what?
trade-off
Why do engineers talk to users or customers before building something?
To understand needs/problems and design better solutions
The design must cost less than $50
Constraint
Why do engineers build prototypes?
To test ideas safely and improve designs.
A design meets all criteria but breaks one constraint. Can it win?
No
If design costs more but lasts longer, what decision must engineers make?
Evaluate trade-offs between cost and performance
A company tests a new backpack by dropping it, soaking it in water and loading it with weight. What are they testing?
Durability in real world conditions.
Give one example of a constraint when designing a snowboot
cost limit, weight limit, temperature requirement
If a design fails testing, what should engineers do next
redesign. modify
Which is better, a design that launches far but breaks rules, or one that follows rules and launches slightly less
The one that follows rules/constraints
Why might engineers choose a design that is not the fastest?
It may meet safety or cost constraints. They made a trade-off somewhere
An engineer improves a design even though the first version works. Why might they do this?
To make it safer, cheaper, stronger, more efficient etc. Optimize
A team must use only four materials and make the design under 14 inches tall
constraints
Why might engineers test several versions of the same product?
To compare results and improve performance. Combine parts that work potentially.
Why do engineers rank designs with numbers (decision matrix)
To compare performance across criteria
Name one reason engineers combine parts of multiple designs?
To improve overall performance
A design works great but is hard for people to use. What real world factor did engineers forget to consider?
User experience/usability
Explain the difference between criteria and constraint in one sentence
criteria describe what a design should do well and constraints are limits the design must follow
Explain what iteration means in engineering
Repeating testing and redesigning to improve a solution
What should engineers look for first when reading a design table
Whether constraints are met
Explain why increasing thickness might solve one problem but create another
It may improve strength but increase cost or weight
If you don't understand a question the first time you read it, what should you do?
Reread and ask teacher if you still don't understand.