Design Terms
What is the name for the step-by-step way engineers solve problems?
What is the engineering design process?
What kind of coaster are students challenged to design in this lesson?
A wooden roller coaster.
What tool did a chimp use to collect ants in the lesson example?
A stick or twig
he helmet should be comfortable to wear. Is this a criterion or constraint?
Criterion.
Who studies natural phenomena: scientists or engineers?
Scientists
What are the features a solution must have to be successful?
What are criteria?
Name one safety-related constraint for a roller coaster.
Speed limits, seat restraints, or age/height of riders
Why were fire alarms designed to be annoying?
Because people need to hear them even while sleeping.
The helmet must weigh less than 95 grams. What is this?
What are criteria?
Who uses scientific knowledge to solve problems?
Engineers
What are the limits or restrictions in a design called?
What are constraints?
Why is planning important before starting a roller coaster design?
Without proper planning, the design might not be safe or meet the needs of users.
What everyday item is an example of solving a problem using engineering? (Hint: something in your pencil case!)
| An eraser—it solves the problem of removing pencil marks.
What’s the difference between criteria and constraints?
Criteria are what a solution should do; constraints are limits it must follow.
Is designing a bike helmet science or engineering?
Is designing a bike helmet science or engineering?
What is it called when a solution is tested again and again for improvement?
What is iterative testing?
Who might need to be involved in the design of a community roller coaster?
Engineers, city planners, builders, community leaders.
Why can’t engineers test a helmet with a real person in a crash?
t’s unsafe and unethical—models like eggs are used instead.
The design must use only certain materials. Which is it?
Constraint.
What kind of question would a scientist ask about a helmet?
What happens to the helmet material in extreme temperatures?
What kind of model is built to test a solution in engineering?
What is a prototype?
What’s one environmental factor to consider when building a roller coaster?
Noise levels, wildlife disruption, or available space.
Give an example of a tradeoff engineers make when designing a product
Using lighter materials to make helmets more wearable, even if they give up some protection.
Why must a design meet all constraints to be acceptable?
Because breaking a constraint means the solution won’t work or won’t be allowed.
What kind of question would an engineer ask about a helmet?
What material absorbs the most impact for a fall at 30 kph?