Engineering Design Process — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Grade 3 engineers use criteria like strength and cost to compare designs.
Criteria in Grade 3 help engineers judge which design is best.
2. If a Grade 3 bridge must hold the most weight, the best design is the strongest.
In Grade 3, strength matters most when the criterion is holding weight.
3. When a Grade 3 car race has a time goal, the fastest car wins.
In Grade 3, speed is the key criterion in a race test.
4. If a Grade 3 design has a small budget, the cheapest design is best.
Cost in Grade 3 is a common constraint engineers must respect.
5. A constraint is a limit, like only using 10 straws in a Grade 3 tower build.
Constraints in Grade 3 shape which designs are even possible.
6. Grade 3 engineers make a chart to compare each idea against the criteria.
Comparing in Grade 3 shows which design wins on each criterion.
7. The design that meets the most Grade 3 criteria is the best solution.
The best solution in Grade 3 is the one that scores highest overall.
8. Grade 3 engineers evaluate each idea by giving it a score on every criterion.
Evaluating in Grade 3 turns opinions into numbers that can be compared.
9. Sometimes two Grade 3 designs tie, so engineers pick the one with fewer weaknesses.
Picking fewer weaknesses helps Grade 3 engineers choose safer designs.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Grade 3 bridge must hold 30 coins
→ Strongest design wins
Strongest design wins
Grade 3 paper airplane must fly farthest
→ Farthest-flying design wins
Farthest-flying design wins
Grade 3 boat must be built for under $2
→ Cheapest design wins
Cheapest design wins
Grade 3 umbrella must keep all water off
→ Most waterproof design wins
Most waterproof design wins
In Grade 3, the best design depends on which criterion is most important.