Reflection Questions

Mckenzie Patrick

1. Was your final design more effective than your original prototype? How do you know?

Yes, my final design was more effective than my original prototype. The final design held an average mass of 426.5 grams and only weighed 20 grams. The prototype held an average mass of 14.25 grams and weighed 34.9 grams.

Graphical Comparison of #1Prototype Vs. Final

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Prototype Final

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2. What did you learn from experimentation that helped you to construct your final design?

From experimentation, I learned that balance was key. It showed me that having a blown up balloon and cup were unnecessary and just weighed the boat down. The more blown up the balloon, the lower the average mass held.

3. What variables did you try to keep constant when attempting to accomplish the challenge?

I tried to keep constant the type of cup, amount of tape, amount of aluminum foil, type of bowl, and type of balloon.

4. After researching scientific phenomena related to this challenge, would you make any changes to your final design if you were given the opportunity?

No, I would not. Based on my research about balance and center of gravity, that was the lowest I could get the boat’s center of gravity while still keeping it at its best.

5. What did you learn from participating in this design process?

I learned from this design process that boats have a lot to do with balance, and that you must distribute weight upon them evenly in order to prevent them from tipping or sinking. I also learned that the best solution with the materials at hand may not always be as complicated as you think.

6. What did you like the most about the design process?

During the design process, I enjoyed researching about center of gravity the most. It was really cool to learn about it and to see how it affects boats and just stability overall.

7. What was the most challenging part of the design process?

The most challenging part of the design process was deciding what variable to alter for the experimental investigation. There were multiple choices that all would’ve led me down interesting paths.

7. What was the most challenging part of the design process?

The most challenging part of the design process was deciding what variable to alter for the experimental investigation. There were multiple choices that all would’ve led me down interesting paths.