Sustainability Basics
What does sustainability mean?
Using resources wisely so they are available for future generations.
What tool measures temperature?
A thermometer.
What force helps boats float?
Buoyancy.
What renewable energy source uses moving water?
Hydropower.
What natural area helps reduce flooding by soaking up water?
Wetlands
Why is water considered a limited resource?
Because only a small amount of Earth's water is clean, fresh water that people can easily use.
During the cooling experiment, what should you change each time?
Only one variable.
About what percentage of goods around the world travel by water?
About 80%.
What spins to help generate electricity in a hydropower system?
A turbine.
Name one way engineers can protect homes from flooding.
Build on stilts, waterproof them, create barriers, use pumps, allow water to flow through safely, etc.
What is one technology that uses a lot of water to stay cool?
Data centers (or computers/AI data centers)
Why should the starting temperature stay the same during each test?
So the experiment is fair and the results can be compared.
Why does moving goods by water often require less energy than moving them on land?
There is less friction
What two renewable technologies were combined in the pumped storage activity?
Solar power and hydropower.
What coding device was used to create a water-saving sensor?
A micro:bit.
Why do engineers think about sustainability?
To solve problems while protecting people and the environment.
Which step of the Engineering Design Process includes testing your solution?
Test (or Test & Improve).
What are canals designed to do?
Connect waterways so boats can travel.
What was the purpose of the saltwater battery activity?
To learn how saltwater can help generate or store energy.
What do sensors help us do?
Detect changes and respond automatically.
Name one trade-off engineers discussed during the cooling activity.
Saving energy vs. saving water.
A team starts one cooling test with warm water at 100°F and another at 85°F. Why would comparing these results be unfair?
Because the starting conditions were different. Engineers need the same starting temperature so they can fairly compare the effectiveness of each cooling method.
During the boat challenge, what engineering goal did your boat have?
Carry the greatest load without sinking.
Which tool measured the voltage of the saltwater battery?
A multimeter.
Give one example of how technology can help conserve water.
Water sensors, smart irrigation systems, leak detectors, automatic shut-off systems, etc.