Engineering Assessment

What problems are we trying to solve in this project?

• How to design a structure that stays standing during seismic activity

• How to apply engineering concepts to real-world problems in Chile

• How to build a tall and stable model using only basic materials

• How to predict when earthquakes will happen in Chile

What are the constraints in this tower-building challenge?

(Select one or more correct answers)

• We are limited to using only wooden skewers and Styrofoam

• The structure must demonstrate resistance to movement or shaking

• The tower must be built on actual earthquake-damaged soil

• The design must be efficient with unlimited materials

What is the purpose of the brainstorming phase in this tower-building project?

(Select one correct answer)

• • To explore different design ideas and decide how to use materials effectively

• To test the strength of the tower under shaking conditions

• To gather wood and Styrofoam from different sources

• To calculate the final height of the tower before building

What are important actions to take during the "Design Your Tower" phase?

(Select all that apply)

• Sketch out your tower design before building

• Decide how to connect the skewers and Styrofoam

• Start building immediately without a plan

• Choose materials other than skewers and Styrofoam for a better design

What are important actions during the "Build your prototype" phase of the project?

(Select all that apply)

• Follow the design plan carefully when building the tower

• Make sure each part of the structure is stable and well-connected

• Change the design constantly while building, without testing

• Focus only on making the tower look good, not on stability

Test: What should you focus on when testing your tower?

(Select all that apply)

• Check if the tower can stay upright without tipping

• Observe how the tower responds to simulated shaking or movement

• Add decorations to make the tower more visually appealing

• Measure how fast the tower falls when pushed over

Improve: What are good strategies for improving your tower design?

(Select all that apply)

• Strengthen weak connections or joints identified during testing

• Adjust your design to lower the center of gravity for more stability

• Use feedback from testing to guide structural changes

• Ignore small issues as long as the tower doesn't fall immediately