Bring Science Alive! Mechanical Waves Engineering Challengee

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M E C H A N I C A L WAV E S ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

Preventing Coastal Erosion Defining the Engineering Problem 1. Read the letter from the mayor of Beach Town, then decide whether each of the statements below is true or false.

Statement

True or False?

An ideal solution would prevent further erosion, but only for a few years.

There are no budgetary constraints on this project.

Ideally, the engineering solution should not obstruct beach access or the scenic view.

Environmental impacts are of no concern, since the Monterey Bay is already protected.

Storm waves carry more energy and cause more erosion in a short time.

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2. In the spaces below, define the problem that must be solved. Then, write down the criteria and constraints that the mayor discussed in the letter.

Engineering Problem

Criteria for Success

Constraints on the Solution

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Developing Possible Solutions 1. Use the Coastal Armoring Rating Guide to give the coastal armoring designs a score in each of the five dimensions. Add together all five scores to find an overall rating for each design. Then, write a sentence explaining how the design uses the properties of waves to prevent erosion.

Design

Sea Wall

Gabion

Groyne

Revetment

Rip-rap

Breakwater

Artificial Reef

Construction Environmental Overall Aesthetics Effectiveness Durability Cost Impact Rating

How it works:

How it works:

How it works:

How it works:

How it works:

How it works:

How it works:

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2. Draw a diagram of the design you will build and test.

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3. Record the number of each material you will use. Calculate the total cost for each material, then add the costs together to find the total cost for the design.

Material

Photo

Cost

1 rubber band

$1 M

3 toothpicks

$2 M

1 mesh square

$2 M

3 pebbles

$10 M

1 hex nut

$15 M

1 craft stick

$20 M

1 coupling nut

$35 M

1 tile

$40 M

1/2 stick of clay

$50 M

Number

Total Material Cost

Total Design Cost: Š Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

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Optimizing the Solution 1. Complete the data table below as you test the four solutions you chose. The first test will serve as a baseline and should be done without any erosion prevention measure.

Coastal Armoring Design (Describe the design being tested)

Trial

Total Waves Before Collapse

Years of Protection (Total Waves divided by 3)

1 None

2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

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2. Work with your group to come up with a new design that combines the best aspects of your previous designs. Consider which design prevented the most erosion, how much each design cost, and which design would be least likely to impact local wildlife. Draw a diagram of your new design.

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Engineering Challenge Assessment Use the rubric below to evaluate your work on this engineering task. Then record your score in the Score column.

Achievement Levels

Engineering Process

Proficient (2 points)

Emergent (1 point)

Not Present (0 points)

Defining the Engineering Problem

Identified design criteria and constraints with precision and clarity.

Understood the engineering task but the design criteria and constraints are not clearly identified.

Did not identify the design criteria and constraints of the engineering problem.

Developing Possible Solutions

Researched all seven possible solutions and collected data about each.

Researched some possible solutions and collected data about each.

Did not research any possible solutions.

Evaluated competing design solutions based on jointly developed and agreed-upon design criteria.

Evaluated competing design solutions, but did not base selections on design criteria.

Did not evaluate design solutions.

Testing was done in a logical, systematic manner and produced complete results for analysis.

Testing was done randomly or incompletely and produced incomplete results.

Did not conduct any tests.

Conducted several tests and gathered relevant data based on average values.

Conducted a few tests and/or data are incomplete.

Data were not collected.

Optimizing the Design Solution

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Score

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