Compare Engineering Solutions
Grade 3 - Science - Building Confidence

NameDate
Design A holds 12 washers. Design B holds 20 washers. The goal is 18 washers. Which works better?
- neither was tested
- Design A
- both fail equally
- Design B
Which evidence should decide between two bridge designs?
- how many washers each bridge held
- which title is shorter
- which bridge has brighter color
- which team talks louder
Why compare more than one solution?
- to make the problem unclear
- to avoid evidence
- to find which best meets the criteria and constraints
- to stop testing
Which comparison is fair?
- test both designs with the same fan speed
- test one design indoors and one in rain
- skip measuring results
- change every material at once
A tower is tall but tips over. Another is shorter but stable. What tradeoff is shown?
- temperature versus rainfall
- noun versus verb
- fraction versus quotient
- height versus stability
Which data table would help compare parachute designs?
- story titles
- drop time for each parachute tested from the same height
- student birthdays
- spelling words
Which solution best meets the constraint 'use only cardboard'?
- a wooden plank
- a folded cardboard brace
- a glass tube
- a metal rod
Which claim uses evidence?
- Design C has a short name.
- Design C is best because I like it.
- Design C works best because it held the most books without bending.
- Design C was first.
Design A costs less but holds less weight. Design B costs more but meets the goal. What should engineers consider?
- criteria, constraints, and tradeoffs
- only team names
- only favorite color
- only the first idea
Which redesign follows evidence that a ramp is too slippery?
- remove the ramp
- add a rough paper surface
- make the ramp smoother
- ignore the sliding car