Engineering Design Process

In this activity, you will learn how to the Engineering Design Process.

Click here to make a NEW, BLANK copy of the Design Process Worksheet. Then move the worksheet into your CCA folder in your Google Drive.

Use the Powerpoint below to answer the questions on the worksheet!

Paper Car Problem

Make a NEW, BLANK copy of the Paper Car Engineering Design Challenge worksheet. This worksheet will be an assessment (80% of your grade)!

Ask (ID and define the design problem):

Design and build a car powered by gravity that can complete in a race against your classmates. The body of the car must be made entirely out of paper (cardstock), with four plastic wheels and 2 steel axles. The car must be within these size requirements:

• 4 - 5 inches long

• 1-5/8 inches wide

• 2 inches or more tall

Rules:

• You may use white glue, scotch tape or staples to put your car together. You may NOT fill your car with glue or use more tape/staples than necessary to hold the car together!

• You care must have exactly 4 wheels and 2 axles

• You may only use 1-1/2 sheets of cardstock--nothing else should be in your car!

• During the race, you may not push or even touch your car once the race has begun!

• If your car goes off the edge of the track or runs into your opponent's car, you are disqualified from the race

Imagine (Brainstorm possible solutions)

On the front of your Design Process worksheet, sketch at least 3 distinct thumbnail drawings of car ideas.

Plan (Design your car)

On a piece of paper (or using Google Draw or Canvas (the Chrome app)), draw a plan for your car, including a top, front and right side view of your car. At minimum, you should include measurements for length, width and height. Post a picture of your plan on the Paper Car worksheet!

Create (follow your plan, build your car!)

Once you've finished your plan, gather your supplies and start creating! You will need to take pictures of your car--one picture of the first version of your car, and one of the final version of your car.

Improve (Test and fix your car)

As soon as your car has wheels, try it out on the race track. Record test data on your Paper Car worksheet! You should have at least five different documented tests, but ideally more.

Be on the lookout for problems like these:

• Car doesn't go straight

• Car doesn't move at all

• Car moves very slowly

If you have any of these issues, tinker with your car design and see if you can fix them. You will not be allowed to print new plans from the computer, but you can use scrap paper as needed to fix the design you already have.