Question

In the Middle Ages, windmills powered grist mills for grinding wheat and other grain. As a farmer, you want to grind wheat more quickly, so you decide to improve your mill by enlarging the size of the windmill arms to generate more power. In the engineering design process, which step is the farmer engaging in by enlarging the size of the windmill arms to increase power?

a) Choose the best solution
b) Brainstorm possible solutions
c) Perform tests on the prototype
d) Modify the prototype based on test results

Answer 1

The farmer is engaging in the 'Modify the prototype' step of the engineering design process by enlarging the windmill arms to generate more power, aiming to improve energy output.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a farmer decides to improve their mill by enlarging the size of the windmill arms to generate more power, they are engaging in the step of the engineering design process known as Modify the prototype based on test results. This involves making changes to the existing model or design after evaluating how it performs, which can include scaling up components to enhance functionality. This step comes after the initial prototyping and testing phases, indicating a cycle of continuous improvement, a core aspect of engineering design. Enlarging the windmill arms is aimed at increasing the torque and the power output, drawing from historical understanding that the size of windmill or wind turbine components correlates with the amount of energy harnessed from the wind.