Engineering Option
Have you ever wondered how something works? We tend to take for granted the fact that a
toaster will properly cook our bread, a watch will give us the correct time, and a flashlight will
turn on when we need it most. Why do these mechanical products work the way they do? By
choosing the Reverse Engineering option of the STEM project, you will attempt to answer this
very question. The following questions will help to get you moving in the right direction.
1.
Define ‘engineering.’ (Feel free to look up the definition in a dictionary).
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
________
2.
Understanding that the word ‘reverse’ means to perform a task in the opposite order,
what does the term ‘reverse engineering’ mean?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
________
3.
Have you ever taken something apart to either attempt to fix it or to see how it works? If
so, describe the situation.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
4.
List three mechanical products (i.e.: toaster) that you believe would be enjoyable to take
apart and learn more about.
a. _____________________________
b. _____________________________
c. _____________________________
5.
What kind of components or pieces might you find inside the products listed in question
4? (i.e.: springs, electrical wiring, etc.).
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
6.
For the STEM project, what mechanical device have you chosen to reverse engineer?
___________________________________________________________
7.
Why did you choose this device for your project?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
8.
Without yet having dismantled the product, how do you think it works? Don’t worry
about coming up with a right or wrong answer- right now you are simply giving it your best
guess!
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
9.
What tools will you need in order to properly dismantle your mechanical product?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
________