Welcome to Smith College
This Mornings Team:
Gemma Regan-MochrieVirginia Diaz, Leen Hayek & Cameah Wood
The Plan…
* A quick review of the engineering design process (10 min.)
* Engineering design activity- Pasta Towers (45min.)
Today we will explore what engineers do and use the process
they use to design things that make the world a better place
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 Tom was your age
All of our “Stuff” is Designed & Engineered
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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Step 2: Research• Only 20 noodles and 20 mini marshmallows
• Think about things you have seen• MUST sketch three designs (no
materials until you have 3 drawings)• Tower must hold a large marshmallow
for 1 min.• It must be “free standing”• You can not wet the pasta or
marshmallows• Tallest tower wins!!!
Geometric Shapes• Triangles – extremely strong• Conjoined cylinders – extremely strong• Squares – not as strong but triangular braces can
strengthen
Strong Base• A solid base will support a taller tower• Triangles and conjoined cylinders make the
strongest bases• Triangular prisms are the best bases• Extra braces make stronger basesEqual Lengths• Length is important• Spaghetti pieces of the same lengths are stronger
than those of different lengths• Different length with make the tower bend and
twistTension and Compression (Pulling and Pushing)• Marshmallows squeeze well but will break if pulled
too far apart• Run spaghetti all the way through to avoid
slippage• Spaghetti breaks easily• Shorter pieces at the bottom will help avoid
breakage
Some Things to Think About
A Quick Review- Our Plan Today:
Think about the materials & problem Make Plans and Pick One to
Build
Build and Test Have Fun!!!Redesign to Improve
Planning… draw at least three possible plans. You have 10 minutes
Building… build your first tower. Try to have one built in 20 minutes.
Redesign or Improve… keep redesigning and building as time allows
Keep your worksheet up to date… draw your improvements as you go
Share your work…tell us about your design, what worked, what did not,
what you learned and what you would do next if you had more time