Question

During the engineering and design process, what happens if a prototype does not work? Choose the correct option:

a. The engineers write a new hypothesis.
b. The prototype is the last step in the process; therefore, there are no further steps.
c. Improvements are made, and then the prototype is retested.
d. The process is started over completely at the identified problem step.

Answer 1

If a prototype fails, improvements are made based on the evaluation, and it is then retested, reflecting an iterative approach known as a spiral design process.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a prototype does not work during the engineering and design process, the correct course of action is typically to make improvements to the design, and then retest the prototype. This reflects an iterative approach to design, known as a spiral design process, where testing and evaluation of prototypes inform improvements and refinements to the design. Instead of starting over from the beginning, the design team makes necessary adjustments based on feedback from testing the prototype against the design criteria and constraints, and retests it to ensure the improvements are effective.