#Catapult designs how to

If your catapult launches Ping-Pong balls so that they all land in the same place but do not hit the target at all, is that an example of accuracy or precision? (Answer: Precision.) If all your Ping-Pong balls hit the target, but in different places on the target, is that an example of accuracy or precision? (Answer: Accuracy.) What if all your Ping-Pong balls hit the target in the same place? (Answer: That demonstrates accuracy and precision!) Now that we've reviewed those terms, we still need to figure out how to design a catapult that is both accurate and precise. We talked about precision and accuracy in the lesson. Using some everyday materials, we will create catapults that can launch Ping-Pong balls in a precise and accurate way. Now that we've learned all about catapults from our lesson, we are going to put that knowledge to work. International Technology and Engineering Educators Association - TechnologyĬopyright © 2014. Tests are often designed to identify failure points or difficulties, which suggest the elements of the design that need to be improved.Īlignment agreement: Thanks for your feedback! Different solutions need to be tested in order to determine which of them best solves the problem, given the criteria and the constraints. Plan and conduct an investigation collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence, using fair tests in which variables are controlled and the number of trials considered. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved. Testing a solution involves investigating how well it performs under a range of likely conditions.Īlignment agreement: Thanks for your feedback! At whatever stage, communicating with peers about proposed solutions is an important part of the design process, and shared ideas can lead to improved designs.Įngineers improve existing technologies or develop new ones to increase their benefits, to decrease known risks, and to meet societal demands. Research on a problem should be carried out before beginning to design a solution. Generate and compare multiple solutions to a problem based on how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the design problem. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. People's needs and wants change over time, as do their demands for new and improved technologies. Different proposals for solutions can be compared on the basis of how well each one meets the specified criteria for success or how well each takes the constraints into account. The success of a designed solution is determined by considering the desired features of a solution (criteria). Possible solutions to a problem are limited by available materials and resources (constraints).

This activity focuses on the following Three Dimensional Learning aspects of NGSS:ĭefine a simple design problem that can be solved through the development of an object, tool, process, or system and includes several criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.Īlignment agreement: Thanks for your feedback! Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.Ĭlick to view other curriculum aligned to this Performance Expectation

Catapult designs