Worksheet

Define Engineering Problems

Grade 3 Science Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the answer.

  1. A pencil holder must be no wider than 6 inches. This one is 6 inches wide. Does it meet the size limit?

    • no, because it must be smaller than 6 inches
    • no, because it is exactly 6 inches wide
    • yes, because it is not wider than 6 inches
    • yes, because it holds many pencils

  2. A birdhouse hole must be no more than 4 cm across, so squirrels cannot get in. This hole is 6 cm across. Does it meet the rule?

    • no, because 6 cm is larger than the 4 cm limit
    • yes, because bigger holes let more birds in
    • no, because the hole is too small
    • yes, because 6 cm is close to 4 cm

  3. A kite challenge allows one sheet of paper and one stick. A student's kite uses two sheets and three sticks, and it flies steadily. Does it meet the requirements?

    • no, because it flies too low
    • no, because it uses more materials than allowed
    • yes, because it flies steadily
    • yes, because extra sticks make it stronger

  4. A rule says a ramp may rise no more than 1 inch for every 12 inches of length. A ramp rises 1 inch for every 6 inches. Does it meet the rule?

    • yes, because it still reaches the door
    • yes, because it rises only 1 inch at a time
    • no, because it is steeper than the rule allows
    • no, because it is too flat

  5. A ramp must send a marble at least 50 cm. In a test, the marble went 65 cm. Does the ramp meet the goal?

    • no, because 65 cm is too far
    • yes, because 65 cm is farther than 50 cm
    • yes, because the ramp is tall
    • no, because it must be exactly 50 cm

  6. A paper airplane flies 2 meters, but the goal is 5 meters. What should the student do next?

    • change the goal to 2 meters
    • throw it the same way ten more times
    • stop testing, since 2 meters is close
    • redesign the plane and test it again

  7. A parachute must make a toy fall slowly. Which test result shows the parachute works?

    • the toy lands upside down
    • the toy falls at the same speed either way
    • the toy falls slower with the parachute than without it
    • the parachute is the biggest in the class

  8. A rain gutter must carry water away from a doorway. Which observation shows it is not working?

    • the gutter is 10 feet long
    • the gutter is made of metal
    • water pools at the doorway during rain
    • water flows away from the doorway

  9. A foil boat must hold 10 pennies and use only one sheet of foil. Which is the constraint?

    • use only one sheet of foil
    • stay dry inside
    • hold 10 pennies
    • float for one minute

  10. Why should a class list the criteria before building a solution?

    • criteria are the materials allowed
    • criteria show how to judge if the design works
    • criteria replace testing
    • criteria are added after building
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Define Engineering Problems

Answer Key - Grade 3 Science Worksheet

Circle the answer.

  1. A pencil holder must be no wider than 6 inches. This one is 6 inches wide. Does it meet the size limit?

    • no, because it must be smaller than 6 inches
    • no, because it is exactly 6 inches wide
    • yes, because it is not wider than 6 inches
    • yes, because it holds many pencils

  2. A birdhouse hole must be no more than 4 cm across, so squirrels cannot get in. This hole is 6 cm across. Does it meet the rule?

    • no, because 6 cm is larger than the 4 cm limit
    • yes, because bigger holes let more birds in
    • no, because the hole is too small
    • yes, because 6 cm is close to 4 cm

  3. A kite challenge allows one sheet of paper and one stick. A student's kite uses two sheets and three sticks, and it flies steadily. Does it meet the requirements?

    • no, because it flies too low
    • no, because it uses more materials than allowed
    • yes, because it flies steadily
    • yes, because extra sticks make it stronger

  4. A rule says a ramp may rise no more than 1 inch for every 12 inches of length. A ramp rises 1 inch for every 6 inches. Does it meet the rule?

    • yes, because it still reaches the door
    • yes, because it rises only 1 inch at a time
    • no, because it is steeper than the rule allows
    • no, because it is too flat

  5. A ramp must send a marble at least 50 cm. In a test, the marble went 65 cm. Does the ramp meet the goal?

    • no, because 65 cm is too far
    • yes, because 65 cm is farther than 50 cm
    • yes, because the ramp is tall
    • no, because it must be exactly 50 cm

  6. A paper airplane flies 2 meters, but the goal is 5 meters. What should the student do next?

    • change the goal to 2 meters
    • throw it the same way ten more times
    • stop testing, since 2 meters is close
    • redesign the plane and test it again

  7. A parachute must make a toy fall slowly. Which test result shows the parachute works?

    • the toy lands upside down
    • the toy falls at the same speed either way
    • the toy falls slower with the parachute than without it
    • the parachute is the biggest in the class

  8. A rain gutter must carry water away from a doorway. Which observation shows it is not working?

    • the gutter is 10 feet long
    • the gutter is made of metal
    • water pools at the doorway during rain
    • water flows away from the doorway

  9. A foil boat must hold 10 pennies and use only one sheet of foil. Which is the constraint?

    • use only one sheet of foil
    • stay dry inside
    • hold 10 pennies
    • float for one minute

  10. Why should a class list the criteria before building a solution?

    • criteria are the materials allowed
    • criteria show how to judge if the design works
    • criteria replace testing
    • criteria are added after building