Author: Administrator

The Engineering Process description- cut up and take off the headings- stick under correct headings NEXT PAGE
(refer to page 1 Engineer Design Process publisher page)

Figure 1. The Taipei 101 stands at 1671 feet, more than ¼ mile tall.
Engineers are constantly being challenged to solve the world's new and complicated problems. Many of these problems initially seem impossible to solve, but engineers find a way to make things happen! In the 20th century, engineers developed previously unimaginable things such as electricity, mass transportation, thousands of different automobiles, and even space travel. Engineers often look back in history to learn from past engineering successes and failures as they design and build amazing new things. Every day, engineers are thinking of ways to improve on what already exists as well as developing brand new ideas that have never been created before. In 2003, the tallest building in the world, the Taipei 101, was completed (see Figure 1). Located in Taiwan, the Taipei 101—named for its 101 floors—stands at 1,671 feet, more than a quarter mile tall! For engineers to come up with a plan for this building (and other similarly challenging structures), they must be creative and think "outside the box."
Let's talk about buildings. What makes a building strong? (If students give answers regarding the materials used [concrete, steel, wood, etc.], continue to ask questions leading them towards the idea of shapes.)] What else, besides the materials used, makes the building strong? Let's brainstorm some ideas. Consider the pyramids in Egypt. Those buildings are very strong and have lasted hundreds of years. They have a very distinctive shape that aids in their strength. Structures must be able to remain standing despite large amounts of force put on them by weight and other factors such as earthquakes or wind. Using different geometric shapes, structures are supported in different ways.
Figure 2. The Greek Parthenon, circa 454-435 BC.
An example of a building using two different shapes, triangles and columns, is the Parthenon, a very successful engineering feat. The Parthenon began construction over two thousand years ago in 447 BC—at the height of the Athenian empire—and is still standing today (see Figure 2). The Parthenon was a temple built to represent the power and strength of the residents of Athens, Greece. This is an excellent example of a well-built structure that engineers can study, enabling them to learn better designs from the past for the future.

For each group:
10 sheets of copy paper (for sketch of ideas)
roll masking tape
20 drinking straws
20 paper clips
2-3 pre-weighed hard cover books (give each group similarly weighted books)
scissors
For the class to share:
small scale for weighing textbooks
For class demonstration by teacher:
Aim– to determine the strongest tower shape that will hold 3 weighted books. Each member of the team will need to make at least 1 design ( sketch) and then trial one as a team.
The team that makes the strongest & holds the most weight will win the challenge.
To be completed by end of Monday Lesson.

Description of problem Target audience	Overview of the design team / What is the mission for each member?
Overview of proposed project / What steps will you take in designing?	Project Requirements & Constraints / What constraints have been put in place
Project Activities & Timelines / What will each member contribute? / When will the design be completed	Outcomes / What could happen?
Evaluation / How will you measure your project success or failure? What techniques will you evaluate? How will you record this?	Funding / What will the cost be of the materials?

Research which shape is the strongest?
Write and describe why this shape is stronger?
What other shape might you test & why?

Each member of the team will need to make at least 1 design ( sketch)
PLEASE LABEL remember constraints
Use the research on the best shape design

As a team select which design you will use
Why have you chosen this design?
What is your prediction on how this design is best?
Revisit the constraints? Will this design still be best? Why?

Make sure when your making your prototype you use the correct materials
How did the porotype look when constructed?
Any challenges?
Did you make any adaptions?

Does it work? Does it solve the need?
What were the results? How many did the tower hold?
What doesn't work and why?

Discuss how you could improve your solution and record
Draw a new design– explain any changes
Re-test– did it work?