Question

An issue the students encountered is that the marble doesn't land on the launch pad all of the time. To remedy this, they consider constructing a funnel to help direct the marble. How do you suggest the students move forward with their design process in order to find a solution?

A Test funnels of the same size and material with varying sized openings.
B Test funnels of the same shape and size with varying materials.
C Test funnels with identical openings and material with varying size.
D Test all of the above funnels and then construct a funnel with the best design elements from each.​

Answer 1

To find a solution to the issue of the marble not landing on the launch pad consistently, I suggest the students follow a systematic approach in their design process. Option D, testing all of the above funnels and then constructing a funnel with the best design elements from each, would be the most comprehensive and effective approach.

By testing funnels of different sizes, materials, and openings, the students can gather valuable data and insights about how each factor affects the marble's trajectory. This will help them identify the key design elements that contribute to successful landing on the launch pad.

Once the students have tested the various funnels, they can analyze the results and determine which design elements worked best in terms of directing the marble accurately. By combining these successful elements, they can then construct a new funnel that incorporates the best features from each tested funnel. This iterative approach allows them to refine their design and increase the chances of achieving consistent and reliable results.

Therefore, option D provides a comprehensive method for the students to explore different design possibilities, gather data, and ultimately create an improved funnel design.

Answer 2

I suggest that the students move forward with option A.

Test funnels of the same size and material with varying sized openings. This will allow them to determine the optimal size for the opening that will help direct the marble to the launch pad. Once they have determined the optimal size, they can move forward with constructing the funnel with that size opening.