Question 1

Which statement best describes an 'innovation' in engineering?

Accepted Answer

Taking an existing idea or product and improving it in a meaningful way

Answer

Creating something brand new that no one has ever thought of

Answer

Testing a prototype multiple times to see if it works

Answer

Writing down all the steps of the engineering design process

Question 2

Why is it important to identify your 'target audience' before designing a product?

Accepted Answer

So you understand who will use your product and what they need from it

Answer

So you know how many prototypes to build

Answer

So you can decide which tools to use in the makerspace

Answer

So you know how much money to spend on materials

Question 3

Which step in the engineering design process comes AFTER you build a prototype?

Accepted Answer

Test and evaluate

Answer

Share your solution

Answer

Identify the problem

Answer

Plan and design

Question 4

What is the PRIMARY purpose of creating a prototype in the design process?

Accepted Answer

To test your ideas and see if they work

Answer

To make the project look pretty

Answer

To show your friends what you're building

Answer

To save time on the actual project

Question 5

Why is it important to IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM before starting to build?

Accepted Answer

Because it helps you understand what you're trying to accomplish

Answer

Because teachers require it

Answer

Because it makes building faster

Answer

Because it determines what materials cost

Question 6

What does 'iterate' mean in the engineering design process?

Accepted Answer

To make small improvements and test again repeatedly

Answer

To copy someone else's design

Answer

To give up and start over

Answer

To build something only one time

Question 7

Which of these is the BEST reason to sketch your design before building it?

Accepted Answer

It helps you plan how pieces connect and spot problems early

Answer

Sketches look nice on the wall

Answer

Sketches are required by all teachers

Answer

It takes up time so you don't have to build yet

Question 8

What is a 'constraint' in engineering design?

Accepted Answer

A limit or requirement you must work within, like time, money, or materials

Answer

A rule that makes projects harder on purpose

Answer

A type of tool you use to build

Answer

Something that always breaks during testing

Question 9

Why should you TEST your prototype multiple times rather than just once?

Accepted Answer

Because one test might not show all the problems, and you need to see if it works consistently

Answer

Because each test destroys the machine

Answer

Because teachers make you do it

Answer

Because it's fun to watch

Question 10

What should you do if your prototype doesn't work the first time you test it?

Accepted Answer

Analyze what went wrong and redesign that part

Answer

Ask someone to do it for you

Answer

Blame the materials

Answer

Throw it away and give up

Question 11

What is an 'invention' in the context of engineering and design?

Accepted Answer

A completely new product or solution that has never existed before

Answer

A detailed drawing of how something should look

Answer

The group of people who will use your product

Answer

Making small improvements to something that already exists

Question 12

What is the main purpose of the engineering design process?

Accepted Answer

To systematically develop solutions to problems

Answer

To build only one perfect prototype

Answer

To avoid making any changes to initial designs

Answer

To create the most expensive solution to a problem

Question 13

Why is it important for engineers to communicate their results?

Accepted Answer

To share knowledge and allow others to learn from their work

Answer

To keep their ideas secret from others

Answer

To avoid having to test their designs

Answer

To make their designs more complicated

Question 14

What is a "prototype" in engineering?

Accepted Answer

An early version or model built to test a concept

Answer

The written plan for a design

Answer

A list of materials needed

Answer

The final version of a design

Question 15

Which of these is NOT typically a constraint in middle school engineering projects?

Accepted Answer

Using professional-grade equipment

Answer

Materials available

Answer

Time available to complete the project

Answer

Size limitations

Question 16

What is a "criterion" in the engineering design process?

Accepted Answer

A standard or specification that a design must meet

Answer

The budget for purchasing materials

Answer

A type of tool used by engineers

Answer

A required course in engineering school

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT typically a step in the engineering design process?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding all testing until the final product is complete

Answer

Developing possible solutions

Answer

Identifying the problem

Answer

Communicating results

Question 18

You are testing two different Rube Goldberg designs. Design A uses 8 steps and takes 12 seconds to complete. Design B uses 5 steps and takes 8 seconds to complete. Both successfully move a marble from start to finish. Which design better meets the criterion of efficiency, and why?

Accepted Answer

Design B, because it accomplishes the goal with fewer steps in less time

Answer

Design A, because longer machines are always better

Answer

Design A, because it has more steps showing more engineering

Answer

Design B, because it uses fewer materials

Question 19

During testing your Rube Goldberg machine, you discover that your marble rolls off the track at the third step. You have already built the entire prototype. What should be your NEXT action?

Accepted Answer

Identify why the marble fell off and modify just that section

Answer

Test it again without making any changes

Answer

Add more tape to hold everything together

Answer

Start completely over with a new design

Question 20

You are comparing three prototype designs that all meet the basic requirements. Design X costs $8 and works 80% of the time. Design Y costs $15 and works 95% of the time. Design Z costs $5 and works 60% of the time. If your constraint is a budget of $10, which design best balances cost and reliability?

Accepted Answer

Design X

Answer

Design Z

Answer

None of them meet the constraints

Answer

Design Y

Question 21

You test your prototype 5 times and it works successfully all 5 times. What is the BEST reason to test it at least 5 more times?

Accepted Answer

To collect more data and identify any patterns or occasional failures

Answer

Testing more than 5 times is unnecessary

Answer

To prove you did the work

Answer

Because the teacher requires it

Question 22

Two students are designing a Rube Goldberg machine. Student A sketches detailed plans before building. Student B starts building immediately without sketching. How will Student A's approach likely affect the design process?

Accepted Answer

It will help identify problems early and reduce building mistakes

Answer

It will make the final product less creative

Answer

It will waste time and delay the project

Answer

It will have no real impact on the outcome

Question 23

Your Rube Goldberg machine must move a marble 10 feet and cost less than $12. After testing, you find it only moves the marble 6 feet. Which statement best describes this situation?

Accepted Answer

Your design meets the cost constraint but not the distance criterion

Answer

Your design is successful because it moved the marble

Answer

You should give up and choose a different project

Answer

Your design failed completely and cannot be fixed

Question 24

You are analyzing data from testing three different ramp angles (30°, 45°, and 60°) for your marble machine. The 45° angle allows the marble to travel the farthest before stopping. What should you do with this information?

Accepted Answer

Use the 45° angle in your final design and test it multiple times to confirm

Answer

Ignore it and use 30° because it is the smallest number

Answer

Try all three angles in different parts of your machine

Answer

Change your design completely because the data is confusing

Question 25

Your prototype works perfectly in your classroom but fails when you test it in the gymnasium. What does this tell you about your design?

Accepted Answer

The design may be too sensitive to environmental factors like temperature or vibrations

Answer

The design is ruined and cannot be used

Answer

You should only test in the gymnasium from now on

Answer

Prototypes never work in different locations

Question 26

You notice that combining the best features from two different prototype designs creates a machine that works better than either original design alone. What engineering process are you demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

Iterating and improving through combining successful elements

Answer

Giving up on the original designs

Answer

Cheating by copying other designs

Answer

Wasting materials and time

Question 27

Your constraint is that your Rube Goldberg machine must fit in a box that is 2 feet × 2 feet × 2 feet. Your current design is 3 feet long. How should you respond to this constraint?

Accepted Answer

Redesign your machine to fit within the space while still meeting other criteria

Answer

Build it anyway and hope it works

Answer

Ignore the constraint because it is too difficult

Answer

Ask for a bigger box instead of changing your design

Related quizzes

Related quizzes