ENGINEERING DAY #3 MARCH 25, 2016

These engineers use their knowledge of physics and biology to determine how forces will impact living things. They design products like life jackets, bulletproof vests, child car seats, and air bags. TODAY YOU WILL BE A BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEER

One of the most important products created by biomechanical engineers is a helmet. Helmets are important when riding a bike, playing football, or walking around a construction site. SO WHAT WILL I BE DESIGNING?

Helmets are designed to protect a very vital part of your body…YOUR BRAIN! Most helmets have a harder outer layer and a softer inner layer used to absorb the shock of a force. Helmets may also have a strap that will keep them in place. MORE ABOUT HELMETS

YOUR CHALLENGE Plan and design a helmet that will protect your superhero’s head in case they fly into a building.

PLANNING To design your helmet, your group will get: 1 foam cup 10 cotton balls 5 rubber bands 1 sheet of newspaper Tape (K/1 st – 3 feet, 2 nd /3 rd – 2 feet, 4 th /5 th – 1 foot)  You will get additional tape between your 2 attempts but no other supplies will be replenished.

TESTING Your group will get a plastic egg to design your helmet around. However, you will test it with a real egg so make sure you can take it on and off easily. Your group will have 2 chances to test your design. If your egg cracks or breaks during the first test, you will have an opportunity to redesign and try again! When you are ready to test, you will come to the testing area. You will be given time to place your helmet on the real egg. The teacher will carefully wrap the rubber band hanging on the end of the string around the egg with your helmet on it. You will pull the egg up where the string is even with the desk and let go. This will send the egg flying into the wall. If your egg cracks or breaks, your design did not protect your superhero’s head and you will need to modify and try a second time. If your egg has no cracks or breaks, you have succeeded in protecting your superhero’s head!

REFLECTION KINDERGARTEN How did your group use the materials given to you to create your helmet? Write 2-3 sentences and draw a labeled picture of your group’s design. 1 st GRADE If you could have more of 1 kind of material, which material would you choose? Why? 2 nd GRADE What material did your group find to be the most valuable for this challenge? Explain why.

REFLECTION 3 rd GRADE How did your group manipulate your materials to meet the requirements for the challenge? Explain how those changes affected your design. 4 th GRADE Explain how your group determined the best use of the materials. What reasoning did you have for manipulating each material in the way you did? 5 th GRADE If you were to create a new list of materials to design a helmet, what would you include on your list. Explain your criteria for selecting materials for this challenge.