Have you ever wondered, “What if I run out of popcorn during a movie?” or “What if it rains when I’m walking home without an umbrella?” These are the kinds of “what-if” questions we all ask ourselves sometimes. But did you know that engineers ask these questions every day? It’s a big part of how they solve problems!
When engineers face a problem, like figuring out how to cross a gorge, they follow a series of steps called the engineering process. First, they define the problem. In this case, it’s “How can we get across the gorge?” Then, they think of different solutions and pick the best one based on what materials they have and how well it solves the problem. After that, they build a prototype, which is like a practice version of their solution, and test it. If it doesn’t work, they try again. Engineers never give up!
There’s another important part of the engineering process: defining variables. A variable is something that can change. Sometimes engineers can control these variables, and sometimes they can’t. For example, if you want to see how high a ball bounces, you can change the height from which you drop it or the type of ball you use. But you can’t change gravity, which pulls the ball down to Earth.
Let’s think about crossing the gorge again. What are the variables? One variable we can control is the weight of the hang glider. We can make it lighter by leaving things behind or heavier by adding more weight. We can also change the design, like the size or angle of the wings, just like when you make a paper airplane. But we can’t control the wind or gravity.
Once engineers know what variables might change, they start asking “what-if” questions. For example, “What if the wind is stronger than usual?” or “What if we leave our umbrella behind?” These questions help engineers decide if their solution will work before they try it out. It’s like making sure everything is ready before you jump into action!
By asking “what-if” questions, you can practice thinking like an engineer. It helps you identify variables and think about how they might affect your solution. And don’t worry about forgetting what you’ve learned—just keep asking those questions and exploring new ideas!
Build Your Own Bridge: Gather some simple materials like popsicle sticks, tape, and string. Try to build a small bridge between two chairs or tables. As you build, think about the variables you can control, like the length of the bridge or the materials you use. Ask yourself, “What if I use more sticks?” or “What if I make the bridge wider?” Test your bridge by placing small objects on it to see how much weight it can hold. Can you make it stronger by changing one of the variables?
Paper Airplane Experiment: Make a few paper airplanes using different designs. Test how far each airplane flies. Think about the variables you can change, such as the size of the wings or the weight of the paper. Ask “what-if” questions like, “What if I fold the wings differently?” or “What if I add a paperclip to the nose?” Record your observations and see which design flies the farthest.
Weather Watch: Keep a weather journal for a week. Each day, write down the weather conditions and think about how they might affect your daily activities. Ask yourself questions like, “What if it rains today?” or “What if it’s windy?” Discuss with a family member or friend how these variables might change your plans and what solutions you could come up with to adapt to the weather.
