Differentiated Project Engineering Design Process Outline

1. Define the problem

Engineering Criteria
Adequate Speed The transporter must not exceed 0.65 meters per second
Safe Parachute and transporter must safely deliver an egg to the ground
Accuracy The transporter must land as close as possible to a predetermined target area
Engineering Constraints
At least one quarter of the egg must be visible in the transporter
All materials must all fit in an 8 x 8 x 8 container
Parachutes total area must not exceed 1 yd2

2. Research the problem

You will be investigating how both weight and spill hole (hole in parachute) affect the rate of decent.
Before you being your experiment, answer the following question
How do you think weight affects the rate of decent? __________________________________________
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What would happen if there was no weight on the stings? _____________________________________
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Why does a parachute have a spill hole? ___________________________________________________
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How do you think a bigger spill hole affects the rate of decent? _________________________________
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Preparations
Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/design-mars-parachute.html and click on launch
interactive. Spend a few minutes using the simulator.
Using a round coffee filter, fold the filter in half, and then in half again so it resembles a quarter slice of
pizza. (Be sure to crease the edges). Now unfold your filter and you have 4 places to put your string and
you also know where the exact center of your circle is.

Using the needle of your compass, poke a hole at the end of each line for your strings. Make sure the
holes are all the same distance from the end of the paper. This will help keep the parachute in balance.
Cut all 4 strings so they are the same distance from the end of the paper and tape them together with a
paperclip included at the bottom.
Make your spill hole templates.
Using your compass and your manila folder, draw circles on the folder that have a diameter of inch, 1
inch, 1 inch, 2 inch, 2 inch and 3 inch diameters.

Data Collection
Student Jobs: Assign each member of your team one of the jobs listed below.
Start Holder: _________________ Timer: ____________________

Recorder: _________________

Step 1: Start Holder while standing on a chair, drop the parachute from the ceiling say release when
letting the parachute go.
Timer When the holder says release start your stopwatch and end it the moment the parachute
touches the ground.
Recorder Record the time in the table at the bottom of this page.
Step 2: Adjust the hole size. Using your templates, cut a hole in the center of the coffee filter starting
with the smallest circle. Drop your parachute again and take the data. Repeat the process until all the
circles have been used.
Diameter of Spill Hole
Time to Ground
Rate of Descent (m/s)

1. Each team will share their results with the rest of the class. Write down their results, along with your
own and complete the table below to find the maximum, minimum, and average time and rate of
descents in meters per seconds.
Diameter of Spill Hole
Your
Data

Time to Ground

Time to Ground

Time to Ground

Time to Ground

Time to Ground

Time to Ground

Diameter of Spill Hole

Your
Data

Rate of Descent (m/s)

Rate of Descent (m/s)

Rate of Descent (m/s)

Rate of Descent (m/s)

Rate of Descent (m/s)

Rate of Descent (m/s)

Diameter of Spill Hole

Average Time
Average Rate of
Descent (m/s)
Maximum Time
Minimum Time

How do your results compare with the rest of the class? Were they similar? What was different? Why?
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3. Brainstorm (Individual)
Youve done some great research and are ready to design the blueprints for both your parachute and
your egg transporter. Remember to keep the engineering criteria in mind. You will be working on this
part by yourself and then sharing with your group when everyone has their own ideas done.
Engineering Criteria
Adequate Speed The transporter must not exceed 0.65 meters per second
Safe Parachute and transporter must safely deliver an egg to the ground
Accuracy The transporter must land as close as possible to a predetermined target area
Engineering Constraints
At least one quarter of the egg must be visible in the transporter
All materials must all fit in an 8 x 8 x 8 container
Parachutes total area must not exceed 1 yd2

Brainstorm your parachute. Use the data youve collected to determine the size of the spill hole in
proportion to the area of the chute. Be sure to include the list of materials and exact measurements.

Design your transporter. Include materials and exact measurements. Remember egg must be showing

4. Choose the Best Solution (Group)

a) Have each member of your team share their ideas with the group. Think about the following:
a. What do you like the most about the design?
b. Do you think the design will meet all of the engineering criteria and constraints?
b) As a group, decide on one best solution. Draw a sketch of both the parachute and transporter
in the space below. Label all parts of the design, including the measurements and materials.
Show how your design addresses all the criteria and constraints. Use the rubric provided by
your teacher to check the quality and completeness of your drawing.

5. Build a prototype/model
You will now construct a model of your teams parachute and egg transporter. You may use any of the
materials provided or bring in your own and get them approved by your teacher. Write down any
changes made to your original design as you build your model in the space below.

6. Test your solution

Speed Test
Student Jobs: Assign each member of your team one of the jobs listed below.
Start Holder: _________________ Timer: ____________________
Time

Recorder: _________________
Rate of Descent (m/s)

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3

Is the speed on all three trials below 0.65 m/s?

yes

no

If no, what happened that did not allow you to meet the criteria? _______________________________
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Is at least of your egg visible in your transporter?

yes

no

Does your parachute and transporter fit in the 6 x 6 x 6 box?

yes

no

7. Communicate your solution

a) Do you think that your transportation system was successful? Did it meet all of the criteria and
constraints? Explain. ________________________________________________________________
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b) Specifically, what are some strengths or advantages of your design? Explain.___________________

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c) What are some drawbacks or disadvantages of your design? Explain. _________________________

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d) What 2 changes can you make to improve the performance of your transportation system? Explain.
(Reduce rate of descent, improve stability, better egg protection, etc)
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
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2. ______________________________________________________________________________
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8. Redesign as needed
Work with your group and discuss modification to improve your transportation system. You can do as
many improvements as you want.

What changes did you make to your system and how will they improve performance?

Student Jobs: Assign each member of your team one of the jobs listed below.
Start Holder: _________________ Timer: ____________________
Time

Recorder: _________________
Rate of Descent (m/s)

Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3

Is the speed on all three trials below 0.65 m/s?

yes

no

If no, what happened that did not allow you to meet the criteria? _______________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Is at least of your egg visible in your transporter?

yes

no

Does your parachute and transporter fit in the 6 x 6 x 6 box?

yes

no

Team Evaluation
How well did your team work together to complete the design challenge? Reflect on your teamwork
experience by completing this evaluation and sharing your thoughts with your team.
Rate your teamwork. On a scale of 0 10, how well did your team do? 10 being excellent and 0 very

poor. Explain how you came up with that rating.

List things that worked well. Example: We got to our tasks right away and stayed on track.

List things that did not work well. Example: We argued a lot and did not come to a decision that everyone

could agree on.

How can you improve teamwork? Make the action steps concrete. Example: We need to learn how to

make decisions better. Therefore, I will listen and respond without raising my voice.