Engineering Design Challenges — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Mia's tower fell at 8 blocks. She widens the base. What likely happens next test?
A) The tower stands taller before falling.
B) The tower falls at exactly 8 blocks again.
C) The tower tips over at fewer blocks.
D) The tower cannot stand at all anymore.
Widening the base spreads weight, so the tower usually balances more blocks.
2. Leo's paper bridge held 4 coins. He folds the paper into a beam. What is the fairest test next?
A) Use a brand new shape and new coins.
B) Use the same coins and same span length.
C) Use heavier coins to challenge the bridge.
D) Use a different table and shorter span.
Keeping coins and span the same isolates the folding change as the only variable.
3. Ana's water filter is slow. She wants faster flow. Which change fits the goal?
A) Add more layers of fine sand on top.
B) Make the funnel opening much smaller.
C) Use slightly larger gravel near the bottom.
D) Pack every layer down very tightly.
Larger gravel creates bigger gaps, so water flows faster through the filter.
4. Sam's marble run is too fast and misses the cup. Which improvement helps accuracy most?
A) Raise the start height much higher.
B) Remove every curve from the track.
C) Use a heavier and bigger marble instead.
D) Add a gentle curve before the cup.
A gentle curve reduces speed near the cup, helping the marble land accurately.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Changing one thing at a time keeps a test fair.
Fair tests change one variable so results clearly show which change mattered.
2. Repeating Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Improve is called iteration.
Iteration uses each test result to guide the next round of design upgrades.
3. The thing being changed in a fair test is the variable.
Variables are the controlled changes that allow engineers to compare test results.
4. Predicting the result before testing is called a hypothesis.
Hypotheses guide testing by stating what engineers expect a change to do.
5. Test results that match a prediction give the team useful data.
Data turns test results into evidence engineers can use to improve designs.