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1. Introduction to Engineering
Problem Solving and the
Scientific Method
Adapted from: Dr. Mark Henderson - Arizona State University

2. Properties of a Problem
• You have all the information
• It can be solved
• Probably one correct answer

3. Engineering Problems
• Never have all the information
• It may never have been solved and may
not be able to be solved
• Many solutions
• So, how do we approach an
engineering problem?

4. Solving Engineering
Problems: Science and Art
• What part is Science?
– Math,
– Physical laws
– ?, ?, …
• What part is Art?
– Creativity,
– Innovation
– ?, ?, …

5. Digital Imaging
• In the 1990’s film cameras dominated
the point and shoot camera market.
• Digital cameras were very expensive
(thousands of dollars) and therefore
few people had them.
• But what happened…

6. APPLE QUICKTAKE 100 (February 17 , 1994 )
- 640 x 480 (.3M) pixel resolution
- Stores eight 640 x 480 images
- Serial port connect to PC
- Weighs only one pound
- Only $1400

7. Three Types of
Engineering Problems
• Can CMOS computer chip processes
capture images?
• Are there more effective ways move
images to the computer?
• Are there better ways store images
than just in the camera?

8. Three Problem Solving
Methods in Engineering
• Scientific Method
– Hypothesis Testing
– What is the solution?
• Engineering Analysis
– Analytical Modeling/Optimization
– What is the solution?
• Engineering Design
– Evaluating Alternatives
– What is the solution?

9. The Air Rocket Problem
• How would you frame it using:
– Scientific Method?
– Engineering Analysis?
– Engineering Design?

10. Scientific Method:
Define the Problem
• Be Specific
– Do digital cameras take better pictures than film
cameras?
• Include ALL relevant solutions and no
irrelevant solutions
– What about movie cameras?
– What is “better”?
• Make it testable
• Is this hypothesis testable?

11. Do Toilets flush clockwise in the northern
hemisphere and counterclockwise in the
southern hemisphere?
• Write a problem statement.
• Write a hypothesis.
• Develop a way to test the hypothesis.

13. Scientific Method:
Will a 4 fin or a 3 fin design make my rocket
more stable?
1. Define the Problem
2. Write a hypothesis
3. Test the hypothesis
– Physical Experiments
– Numerical Experiments
– Prototype and Test
• Will a reinforced rocket body enable launch?
• Answer is Yes/No with some data to prove it.

14. Engineering Analysis:
What is the best body and fin material for rocket stability?
• Not just Yes/No
• Examine ALL possibilities
• You may have multiple criteria
• Best to create a mathematical model
• Different approaches may require
variations in the model.

15. Engineering Design:
Which rocket structure will provide optimum stability?
• Not just yes/no
• Not just a number
• Requires idea generation of many
alternatives
• An artifact selected from many alternatives
• Modeling, prototyping, testing
• Involves more than technology …

16. Problem Solving Must be
Logical and Organized!
• Define the problem
• Be Specific
–Win the competition.
–Be able to control rocket distance, accuracy, precision
and repeatability from the given launcher
–Create a rocket with predictable accuracy and precision
given the launcher and test requirements.

17. What analysis will you
use for your rocket
• Scientific Method - Hypothesis
• Engineering Analysis - Optimization
• Engineering Design - Artifact

18. Develop a Plan to Solve
the Rocket Problem
• State the problem.
• List the variables.
– Is it the rocket shape? Material? Weight?
Launcher? Wind? Personnel?
• Which variables can you control?
• How can you adjust for the uncontrollable
variables?
• What are you trying to optimize?
• What is the form of the solution?
• What is your approach?