PLTW Design Process

After building a paper airplane, you throw it and it immediately crashes. You realize that there is a major flaw in your design. What should be the next step?

• destroy the old airplane and start from scratch

• change the design and test it again

• use a different color paper

A technology company has identified the need for a smaller laptop computer that weighs less, but they do not have enough knowledge about how to build it.

What would be the next logical step engineers would take to design and produce this laptop computer?

• Build a new type of laptop battery

• Research current laptop technology

• Build a prototype computer

What is the purpose of building a prototype?

• to test the product and make sure that it is the best solution to the problem
• to make sure that the product is in compliance with government regulations
• to determine the design constraints for the product

When finding the solution to an engineering problem, there is/are usually 

• only one possible correct solution
• a very limited number of possible correct solutions
• many possible correct solutions

An engineer has designed and built a prototype to improve the brake system of a car. What is the next step that the engineer should take in the process?

• Test the prototype.
• Make sketches of the prototype.
• Identify constraints.
• Collect and analyze the test results. 

Which step of the Design Process involves communicating the results of your tests

• Evaluate Solution

• Define the Problem

• Generate Concepts

• Present Solutions

What is the main goal of the design process?

• To write reports
• To make things
• To make charts and graphs
• To find solutions to problems

You have designed a new type of bicycle, but during testing, you find that it is not as fast as you expected. What should be your next step?

• Start designing a new type of bicycle from scratch

• Modify the design and test it again

• Change the color of the bicycle

A software company wants to develop a new mobile application, but they are not sure about the current trends and user preferences.

What would be the next logical step engineers would take to design and produce this mobile application?

• Start coding the application

• Research current mobile application trends and user preferences

• Design the user interface of the application

What is the first step an engineer should take when faced with a new problem?

• Start building a prototype immediately.

• Identify the problem and constraints.

• Start testing possible solutions.

• Start sketching possible solutions.