Unit 5: Geometry of Design – Design Problem

Nov 9 – Dec 11 3 weeks

Unit Summary Students learn to evaluate and calculate properties of physical objects (ex. shape, size, volume, weight, density). Students will also use AutoCAD to describe these physical properties.

Big Ideas

• Geometric shapes and forms are described and differentiated by their characteristic features.

• Physical properties of objects (ex. shape, area, volume, density, etc.) are used to describe and model objects and can be used to define design requirements, as a means to compare potential solutions to a problem, and as a tool to specify final solutions.

• CAD and drafting software packages incorporate the application of a variety of geometric and dimensional constraints and model features to accurately represent objects.

Essential Questions

• How does the material chosen for a product impact the design of the product?

• How do the physical properties of an object affect the Tipping Force for that object?

• What advantage(s) does CAD and Drafting provide over traditional paper and pencil design? What advantages does paper and pencil design provide over CAD?

• Which high school math topic/course, Algebra or Geometry, is more closely related to engineering? Justify your answer

Priority TEKS

• Identify and differentiate geometric constructions and constraints (such as horizontal lines, vertical lines, parallel lines, perpendicular lines, colinear points, tangent lines, tangent circles, and concentric circles) and the results when applied to sketch features within a 3D solid modeling environment.

• Solve real world and mathematical problems involving area and surface area of two- and three-dimensional objects composed of triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, cubes, right prisms, cylinders, and spheres.

• Create three-dimensional solid models of parts within CAD from sketches or dimensioned drawings using appropriate geometric and dimensional constraints and model features.

• Use physical properties to solve design problems

Activities

• Team project: students will work in teams of 3 or 4.

• Identify the Problem

• Describe the Problem

  • Density Lab

  • Force & Stability Lab

  • Force & Stability HW

  • Design Proposal

• Devise a Solution

  • CAD Modeling

  • Test & Evaluate

  • Physical Model

• Presentations