IntroductionsTom.. A little bit about…

A bit about you…

background,how

you will be using this

interests

concerns

The Plan…

Today’s Session- 2 hours

Introductions- 10 min.

Quick overview of Engineering Design and why it is important- 15 min.

A quick example of how you use this kind of thinking every day- 5 min.

Lab Activity- Balloon Powered Cars- 60 min.

Debrief/Sharing- 15 min.

Questions and additional activities-15 min.

Today we will explore what engineers do and use the process they use to design things that make the world a

better place to live in

Think about 3 things that are NOT normally engineered.

Quickly identify some things that are NOT engineered

Did you think of these kind of things?

All of our “Stuff” is Designed & Engineered

What do Engineers Do?

They make “stuff” better- Innovate◦Compare the telephone or car of your

grandparents to today’s phone or car

They Invent new products◦Cell Phones, personal computers, X

box, the Mars lunar lander & battery powered tools were not around when I was your age

How do they do it?Engineers most often work in

teams to bring different skills, perspectives and experiences to the table

Engineers today follow a flexible process that is similar to the Scientific Method

Step 1

Identify the Need or Problem

Step 2Research the Need

or Problem

Step 3

Develop Possible Solution(s)

Step 4Select the Best

Possible Solution(s)

Step 5Construct a Prototype

Step 6Test and Evaluate

the Solution(s)

Step 7Communicate the

Solution(s)

Step 8Redesign

The Engineering Design ProcessA flexible structure used by engineers to guide them through problem

solvingFrom the state of Massachusetts… there are others!!!

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You already use this process to solve every day problems.

A quick and simple explanation using an everyday task… I’m hungry… what’s for dinner

A more technical problem … the connectors on a life vest don’t work after a couple of months

Today

Step 1: Define the Problem

Using only the materials provided, design and construct a balloon powered car that will travel at least 15 feet.

You may cut or reshape the materials

You must draw at least three alternative plans before starting construction

You do not need to use everything in the kit

Step 2: Research• Investigate or study the materials

available• You must sketch three designs (no

materials until you have 3 drawings)

• Think about what you have seen on similar toys or structures (2, 3 or 4 wheels?), car bodies of craft sticks, cardboard or combo?

• Break it down into subsystems: power system, car body, wheel and axle

Working as a team and listening to each other

We need to minimize resistance… to do that we need to reduce friction and weight

We need to consider aerodynamics (another form of resistance)

The wheels need to be able to turn

The wheels need to rotate parallel to each other

The air flow out of the balloon or balloons needs to be controlled

Keep it simple, we only have so much time to work with

Some Things to Think AboutWhat are the big issues in this

project?

Step 3 & 4: Design &

Pick

Step 5 & 6: Build & Test

Step 7: Refine

Step 8: Tell us about it (if

time allows))

What was your basic plan?What did you learn in the building and testing?

How would you improve your solution?

To Review: Our Plan Today:

Think about the materials & problem Make Plans and Pick One to

Build

Build and Test Have fun EngineeringRedesign to Improve

The Activity

Balloon Powered Cars: Design and construct a balloon powered car that will travel at least 15 feet. Each team of two or three will be given a kit of materials.

You may only use the materials in your kit to complete the design problem.

You can not start construction until you have 3 options drawn on your sheet

You may want to break the problem into systems… power, body, wheel & axle

There will be a selection of shared equipment available in front of the room. There will be cutters for the dowels and cardboard in the front of the room.

You have about 20 min. to build. Hint… test/fail early, test/fail often

We will have a sharing session when done if time allows

Have fun…

…but first… groups of 2 or 3

Planning… draw at least three possible plans. You have 10 minutes

Use timer link on the desktop

Building… build your first car and test it. Try to have one built in 20 minutes.

Redesign or Improve… keep redesigning, building and testing as time allows

Communication (as time allows)… How were you going to solve the problem at the beginning?

What worked and what did not work?

What would you do next if you had more time?

What did you learn in this activity?

Contact Info:

Tom GralinskiClark Science Center, Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA 01063

413-585-3932

tgralins@smith.edu