Engineering Design Challenges — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. In an egg drop challenge, students protect a raw egg from breaking when dropped.
Egg drop tests how well a design absorbs the force of impact during a fall.
2. Cushioning materials like cotton or bubble wrap help slow the egg before it lands.
Bubble wrap traps air pockets that absorb energy so the egg shell stays whole.
3. A newspaper bridge is built only from rolled paper and tape to hold weight.
Newspaper bridges teach how shape and triangles add strength using weak materials.
4. Rolling newspaper into tight tubes makes it much stronger than flat sheets.
Tubes resist bending forces because the round shape spreads loads evenly.
5. A solar oven uses sunlight to heat food without electricity or fire.
Solar ovens trap sun rays inside foil-lined boxes to slowly cook food safely.
6. Solar ovens often use shiny foil to reflect sunlight onto the food inside.
Aluminum foil reflects light rays toward the food, raising the inside temperature.
7. A variable is something the engineer changes to test how it affects results.
Variables are factors changed during tests so engineers can see what causes changes.
8. Engineers measure outcomes using a ruler for length and a scale for weight.
Rulers give exact length numbers so engineers can compare designs fairly.
9. A constraint is something that cannot change, like time limits or available materials.
Constraints are rules or limits engineers must respect while building solutions.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Egg drop
→ Protect a falling egg
Protect a falling egg
Newspaper bridge
→ Hold weight across a gap
Hold weight across a gap
Solar oven
→ Cook using sunlight
Cook using sunlight
Variable
→ A factor that changes
A factor that changes
Knowing each challenge's goal helps Grade 4 engineers plan smart, focused designs.