Welcome to Smith College This Mornings Team: Gemma Regan-Mochrie Virginia Diaz, Leen Hayek & Cameah Wood The Plan… *A quick review of the engineering design process (10 min.) *Engineering design activity- Pasta Towers (45min.)

Today we will explore what engineers do and use the process they use to design things that make the world a better place

What do Engineers Do? They make “stuff” better- Innovate ◦ Compare the telephone or car of your grandparents to today’s phone or car They Invent new products ◦ Cell Phones, personal computers, X box, the Mars lunar lander & battery powered tools were not around when Tom was your age

All of our “Stuff” is Designed & Engineered

Step 1 Identify the Need or Problem Step 2 Research the Need or Problem Step 3 Develop Possible Solution(s) Step 4 Select the Best Possible Solution(s) Step 5 Construct a Prototype Step 6 Test and Evaluate the Solution(s) Step 7 Communicate the Solution(s) Step 8 Redesign The Engineering Design Process A flexible structure used by engineers to guide them through problem solving From the state of Massachusetts… there are others!!! * * * *

Today

Only 20 noodles and 20 mini marshmallows Think about things you have seen MUST sketch three designs (no materials until you have 3 drawings) Tower must hold a large marshmallow for 1 min. It must be “free standing” You can not wet the pasta or marshmallows Tallest tower wins!!!

Geometric Shapes Triangles – extremely strong Conjoined cylinders – extremely strong Squares – not as strong but triangular braces can strengthen Strong Base A solid base will support a taller tower Triangles and conjoined cylinders make the strongest bases Triangular prisms are the best bases Extra braces make stronger bases Equal Lengths Length is important Spaghetti pieces of the same lengths are stronger than those of different lengths Different length with make the tower bend and twist Tension and Compression (Pulling and Pushing) Marshmallows squeeze well but will break if pulled too far apart Run spaghetti all the way through to avoid slippage Spaghetti breaks easily Shorter pieces at the bottom will help avoid breakage Some Things to Think About

A Quick Review- Our Plan Today : Think about the materials & problem Make Plans and Pick One to Build Build and Test Have Fun!!! Redesign to Improve

Have fun… …but first… groups of 2 or 3

Planning… draw at least three possible plans. You have 10 minutes Building… build your first tower. Try to have one built in 20 minutes. Redesign or Improve… keep redesigning and building as time allows Keep your worksheet up to date … draw your improvements as you go Share your work… tell us about your design, what worked, what did not, what you learned and what you would do next if you had more time