Rocket balances a stack of library books on his handlebars. They slide and wobble.
"I need a giant rocket booster basket!" he says.
Raven tilts her head. "What do you notice? What is the real problem here?"
Nova hovers above the books. "Engineers name the problem before they build," she says.
Rocket opens his shop notebook to the last section: Design Lab.
Engineers solve problems that come from people's needs and wants.
First they define the problem clearly.
Criteria are what the design must do to be a success.
Constraints are the limits, like materials and time.
A good problem statement names both.
| Problem | One criterion (must do) | One constraint (limit) |
|---|---|---|
| Carrying books on a bike | Holds books without sliding | Cardboard and tape only |
| Being seen by others | Shows up when light shines on it | Must be done in one week |
| Rain on a backpack | Keeps paper inside dry | Uses things found at home |
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| Engineers define the problem before building. | ? |
| Criteria are what a design must do. | ? |
| Constraints are the colors you like best. | ? |
| People's needs and wants lead to new designs. | ? |
This week you design a bike add-on.
Pick one problem: carrying things, being seen or rain.
Or pick another real bike problem you have noticed.
Your add-on will be a cardboard model. Models stay off real bikes.
Problem named! Tomorrow we research and dream up many ideas.