Name ____________________________________________ Date ________________________________ Page 1
ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS PART 3: Define the
problem
TEST YOUR SOLUTION Compare
results and
Engineering
Design Brainstorm
solutions
Once the most promising solution to a problem is identified, an redesign Process
engineer begins the next step of the engineering design process:
test the solution. In this step, an engineer builds, tests, and collects
data on a prototype. After analyzing the data, the engineer will modify Test
solution
the prototype to better meet the constraints and criteria of the project.
Answer the questions below.
1.
Look back at the prototype that you sketched in question 4 of the Part 2 worksheet. Make sure you have
the materials needed to build your prototype. Then, build it!
2.
How challenging was it to build your prototype? Did you make any adjustments to the original design
from your sketch? If so, describe the changes you made and why.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
3.
How will you test the prototype you built? What will you observe or measure to evaluate how well the
prototype meets the criteria of the project?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
4.
Test your prototype. Use the first row of the table below to record some notes on the design features as
well as your results and observations. Later, you will test two additional prototypes and write your results
and observations for those in rows 2 and 3.
Prototype Notes on Design Results and Observations
Find worksheets, games, lessons & more at education.com/resources
© 2007 - 2023 Education.com
Name ____________________________________________ Date ________________________________ Page 2
ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS PART 3: TEST YOUR SOLUTION
Keep going! Answer the questions below.
5.
How did your prototype perform? How do you think the prototype could be improved?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
6.
Modify your prototype based on your ideas in question 5. Go back to the table in question 4, and in row 2,
add notes on the changes you made to the design. Then, collect and record data for the new prototype.
7. Repeat questions 5 and 6 at least one more time to test a total of three different prototypes.
8. Look over the results from the testing of each prototype.
a. Were there any modifications that did not improve the design’s performance? Explain.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
b. Does anything about your results surprise you? Explain.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
c. Which prototype best meets the criteria of the project? Why do you think so? Explain your reasoning
using results and observations from the testing you completed.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
9.
If you had more time, how would you improve your final design? Explain.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Find worksheets, games, lessons & more at education.com/resources
© 2007 - 2023 Education.com
