Science & Engineering
How Is Engineering Different from Science?
“Scientists study the world as
it is; engineers create the
world that never has been.”
-Theodore von Kármán
NASA / JPL Aerospace
Engineer
Engineering Design Challenge:
Spaghetti Tower
To construct a tower as high as possible
using spaghetti and marshmallows. ...
There are many ways of building towers using
spaghetti and marshmallows.
Materials:
20 pieces of dry spaghetti
30 mini marshmellows
Scissors (to cut spaghetti)
Ruler
Meter Stick for measuring height
Scientific Method
The steps :
•Ask a Question
•Do Background Research
•Construct a Hypothesis
•Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
•Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion
•Communicate Your Results
Question:
Do you think a wide base or a narrow
base will result in a taller tower?
Hypothesis:
If I build a wide base, then I will
have a taller tower.
Identification of Variables
Independent Variables: Dependent Variable:
(What I can control)
(Beats me I don’t
know)
2-D Geometric Shapes
•Triangle
Height
•Square
•Circle (Polygon)
3-D Geometric Shapes
•Pyramid
•Cube
•Cylinder or Sphere
Select One Independent Variable
Squares and Cubes of fixed sizes
Prove or disprove the hypothesis
You may or may not have built the tallest tower
Gain Scientific Knowledge
Engineering Design Process
A series of steps that lead to the development of a
new product or system.
STEP 1: Identify the Problem
STEP 2: Brainstorm ( generate ideas & possible
solutions)
STEP 3: Design (explore possibilities & select an
approach)
STEP 4: Build (Model or Prototype)
STEP 5: Test
STEP 6: Redesign (Refine the design)
STEP 7: Share Solutions
No Single “Correct" Solution or
Approach
“EXPLORER" METHOD
Typically used for new design ideas or research.
It is useful in initial design and specification stages,
and is often used when in "unfamiliar territory“
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Move in some direction
Look at what you find there
Record what you find in your notebook
Analyze findings in terms of where you want to be
Use results of analysis to choose next direction
Back to 1 and continue exploring
Summary
A Scientist asks a question and
develops an experiment, or set of
experiments, to answer that question.
An Engineer uses the engineering
design process to create new solutions
to problems
Both gain scientific knowledge
Design the Tallest Freestanding
Spaghetti Tower
Materials :
•20 strands of uncooked spaghetti
•1 m. masking tape
•1 m. kite string
•Scissors
•Ruler
•Meter Stick
•12 “ square of cardboard (build & move tower)
Option: Substitute 30 mini-marshmallows for 1
m. of masking tape
Properties of Dry Strand of
Spaghetti and Mini-Marshmellow
Tension Force
Compression Force
• Marshmallows do not hold
up to tension
• Spaghetti cannot hold much
tension; therefore, it breaks
very easily
• Marshmallows handle
compression
• Spaghetti cannot hold much
compression; therefore, its
breaks very easily
Problem Solving
Tension Force
Compression Force
Strategy – Fresh
marshmallows are more
sticky and grip spaghetti
Strategy – Double up the
spaghetti strands (two
strands side by side) for
extra strength, especially
at the foundation
Strategy – Push
spaghetti deep into
marshmallow
Strategy – Use
marshmallows side
by side for extra
strength and use small
pieces of spaghetti to
pin marshmallows
Properties of String
Tension Force
String handles tension
Compression Force
String does not handle compression
Design The Tallest Spaghetti Tower
That Can Withstand A Load
Materials :
•Uncooked spaghetti
•1 m. masking tape
•1 m. kite string
•On large marshmallow placed on top (load)
•Scissors
•Ruler
•12” piece of cardboard (build & move tower)
Option: Substitute 30 mini-marshmallows
for 1 m. masking tape
Design the Tallest Spaghetti Tower
That Can Withstand The Largest Load
Option:
• Which Spaghetti Tower has the best Structure
Effectiveness
• Structure Effectiveness = (maximum weight
structure can hold) / (weight of structure alone)
• Weight tower structure
• Place a 3x5 file card on top of Tower and add
units of mass (washers or pennies) until structural
failure
Design the Tallest Earthquake
Proof Spaghetti Tower
•Build a simple, non-motorized
earthquake “shake” table
•Allow movement in 6 directions:
Back-and forth
side to side, and
up-and-down
•To survive an earthquake test, the
building must not collapse for 10
seconds after the earthquake begins.
Design The Tallest Earthquake
Proof Spaghetti Tower Challenge
Materials :
•20 strands of uncooked spaghetti
•1 m. masking tape
•1 m. kite string
•Scissors
•Ruler
•Meter Stick
•12” square of cardboard (build & move
tower)
•Earthquake “Shake” Table
Option: Substitute 30 mini-marshmallows
for 1 m. of masking tape
Types Of Waves
Longitudinal Wave
Traverse Wave
WAVE
A disturbance that travels through a medium,
transporting energy from one location (its
source) to another location without
transporting matter.
Particles of the medium move
in a direction parallel to
the wave motion direction
Particles of the medium move
in a direction perpendicular to
the wave motion direction
Simple Non-Motorized Shake
Table
Materials:
•Piece of board or plywood
into a 12” square
2” x 4” Frame that fits around
the wood square with around
1/2” clearance between the
outer edge of the square and
the inside edge of the frame
• Eight Wood Screws
•Eight Rubber bands (32 or 64)
Assembly:
•Mount 2 wood screws on the under side each side
of the plywood with ¼” sticking up
•Mount wood screws on the top edge of each side
of the frame with ¼ “ sticking up
•Loop a rubber band around each pair of screws so
that the plywood square is suspended like a
trampoline within the frame
Option: Motorize the Shake Table
Attach a cell phone underneath the plywood, set to
vibrate (vibration motor); then call phone
Measuring Earthquakes
Richter Scale (Math Scale x 10)
Modified Saffir - Simpson Scale
(Math Scale x 30 increase in Energy)
Design The Tallest Hurricane
Proof Spaghetti Tower
Materials :
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
20 strands of uncooked spaghetti
1 m. masking tape
1 m. kite string
Scissors
Ruler
Meter Stick
Three speed Box Fan
12” square of cardboard (build & move tower)
Option: Substitute 30 mini-marshmallows
for 1 m. of masking tape
Measuring Hurricanes
Saffir - Simpson Scale
Measuring Tornadoes
Enhanced Fujita Scale