PLTW Intro to Engineering Design End of Course Assessment Study Guide

How might we create the best possible solution to a problem?

Engineers try the think "outside the box" in order to solve new problems or find ways to improve current solutions

What is the most effective way to generate potential solutions to a problem? How many alternate solutions should you generate?

Brainstorming with a troup, research and testing possible solutions

What is an engineer? What types of work do engineers do?

Engineering is the application of mathematics and scientific principles to better or improve life. An engineer is a person who is trained in and uses technological and scientific knowledge to solve practical problems. Research, Develop, Design, Supervise, Manage, Production and Construction, Operations, Plant Management, and Sales

What are the 4 best practises for the engineering notebook?

- Be neat
- Be accurate
- Be logical
- Be thorough

Why keep an engineering notebook?

An engineering notebook is recognised as a legal document that is used in patent activities to...
- Prove the origin of an idea that led to a solution
- Prove when events or ideas occurred
- Prove diligence in turning the idea into a solution
- Prove when an idea became a working solution ("reduced to practise")

explain the concept of proportion.

Paying close attention to the underlying basic shapes and the relative proportions of various features of the object will allow you to more accurately reflect the true shapes and proportions of the object in your sketch

Why would the ability to make realistic sketches make a person a more competent designer?

Representing existing objects and new ideas with sketches can make the design process more effective and efficient and greatly enhance the ability of others to understand your ideas. Allows them to communicate their ideas more clearly.

What is the purpose of sketching your ideas?

Sketches provide a means theough which one can quickly and clearly communicate ideas.

Define and differentiate invention and innovation.

- Invention: A new product, system or process that has never existed before, created by study and experimentation.
- Innovation: An improvement of an existing technological product, system or method of doing something.

Define Brainstorm

A group technique for solving problems, generating ideas, stimulating creative thinking, etc. by unrestrained spontaneous participation in discussion

Define Constraint

1. A limit to a design process. Constraints may be such things as appearance, funding, space, materials, and human capabilities.
2. A limitation or restriction.

Define Design

1. An iterative decision-making process that produces plans by which resources are converted into products or systems that meet human needs and wants or solve problems.
2. A plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of something before it is built or made.
3. A decorative pattern.

Define Design Brief

A written plan that identifies a problem to be solved, its criteria, and its constraints. The design brief is used to encourage thinking of all aspects of a problem before attempting a solution.

Define Design Statement

A part of a design brief that challenges the designer, describes what a design solution should do without describing how to solve the problem, and identifies the degree to which the solution must be executed.

Define Engineering Notebook

An engineering notebook is a book in which an engineer will formally document, in chronological order, all of his/her work that is associated with a specific design project.

Define Prototype

A full-scale working model used to test a design concept by making actual observations and necessary adjustments.

Define Research

The systematic study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

Design Process Steps in Order

1- Define Problem
2- Generate Concepts
3- Develop a Solution
4- Construct and Test Prototype
5- Evaluate Solution
6- Present Solution

Define Tonal Shading

The representation of light and shade on a sketch or
map.

Define Centre Line

A line which defines the centre of arcs, circles, or symmetrical parts

Define Extension Line

Line which represents where a dimension starts and stops

Define Dimension Line

A line which representa distance

Define Object Line

A heavy solid line used on a drawing to represent the outline of an object

Define Construction Lines

Lightly drawn lines to guide drawing other lines and shapes

Define Hidden Line

A line type that represents an edge that is not directly visible

Define Orthographic Projection

A method of representing three-dimensional objects on a plane having only length and breadth. Also referred to as Right Angle Projection

Define Leader Line

Line which indicates dimensions of arcs, circles and detail.

Define Cabinet Pictoral

Oblique pictoral where depth is represented as half scale compared to the height and width scale

Define Cavalier Pictoral

Oblique pictoral where height, width and depth are represented at full scale

Define Pictoral Sketch

A sketch that shows an object's height, width and depth in a single view

Define Isometric Sketch

A form of pictoral sketch in which all three drawing axes form equal angles of 120 degrees with the plane of projection

Define Perspective Sketch

A form of pictoral sketch in which vanishing points are used to provide the depth and distortion that is seen with the human eye

Define Multi-View Drawing

A drawing which contains views of an object projected onto two or more orthographic planes

Define Oblique Sketch

A form of pictoral in which an object is represented as true width and height, but the depth can be any size and drawn at any angle

What are the 3 spatial dimensions?

Height, width and depth

What is an Orthographic Projection?

A method of representing three-dimensional objects on a plane

What is a Multi-View Drawing?

A drawing which contains views of an object projected onto two or more orthographic planes

What is a Technical Working Drawing?

A drawing that is used to show the material, size, and shape of a product for manufacturing purposes

The degree of closeness of measurements to the actual or accepted value is called...

Accuracy

Difference between Accuracy and Precision

- Accuracy: The degree of closeness of measurements to the actual or accepted value
- The degree to which repeated measurements show the same result

How can statistical and analysed data be used to inform, justify and validate a design or process?

Statistics are commonly used in manufacturing processes to control and maintain quality. A statistical analysis is used to determine measures of central tendency and variation of the data

What is dimensional analysis and how can it help solve problems involving quantities?

Performing a dimensional analysis on a part will assure that all needed dimensions to create the part have been included. This will ensure that the part is made correctly

Why do engineers generally adhere to a set of dimensioning standards and guidelines?

In manufacturing, a part must be dimensioned fully and correctly and to the proper precision.
have been included. This will insure the part is made correctly. Otherwise, the part may not function properly or may not fit into an assembly as intended.
Dimensioning errors can lead to a delay in production time, increased design and
manufacturing costs, and a potentially unsafe product.

Why would you have to know how to convert measurements when looking at a technical
drawing?

If they are not in the units preferred by the engineer, they will need to change them

Why is placement of your dimensions so important?

So they can be read without confusion

How can you use units help you solve a problem?

If the Units are all the same communication of size and shape are understood with out confusion.

Why do designers need to fully dimension a part?

A fully dimension part is required to
communicate clearly how the part is to be constructed.

What does it mean when a sketch is over dimensioned?

A sketch is over dimensioned when
the same measurement/dimension is on 2 or more of the views: such as the over all width is
placed in both the front and top views. This can cause confusion and increase the
probability of the part being constructed incorrectly

A graph of vertical bars representing the frequency distribution of a set of data is
called

Histogram

Collection of methods for planning experiments, obtaining data, organizing, summarizing,
and presenting, analyzing, interpreting, and drawing conclusions based on data.

Statistics

measure of the spread of data values

Standard Deviation

Normal Distribution

A function that represents the distribution of variables as a symmetrical bell-shaped graph.

Mode

The value that occurs most frequently in a given data set

Range

difference between the largest and smallest values that occur
in a set of data.

Median

A measure of center in a set of numerical data

Significant digits

The digits in a decimal number that carry meaning contributing to the precision or accuracy
of the quantity

Central Tendency

Center of a distribution: Mean, Median or
Mode.

Prototype

A full-scale working model used to test a design concept by making actual observations and
necessary adjustments

A measuring instrument having two adjustable jaws typically used to measure distance or
thickness

Calipers

What is the role of models in the design process?

Provides a visual for all to see and helps them to see the viability of the idea

How can we use technology to make the design and manufacture of a product more efficient
and less prone to error?

Allows us to investigate the properties digitally before it is built physically

What is the purpose of a portfolio? How do you decide what information to include in a
portfolio

The Purpose of a portfolio is to effectively communicate the details of a project. Title page, working technical drawings and an "exploded" presentation page with a parts list (i.e., whatever is necessary to communicate all the details of a project)