Inquiring and Analyzing
Design Brief
The formal starting point of the design, states the expectations and design problem. Does not
provide the solution.The design brief states the intended outcome and the major constraints
within which it must be achieved.
Problem Statement (defines problem):
The problem is...
I cant transport all of my goods to different cities across bodies of water fast enough, and
some need to be bought quickly.
Why is the problem important?
The problem is important because...
Some of my goods (like food) go bad before I reach the towns I want to get to, and so I lose
money because I am not making profit off of goods that I cant sell. Because Im not making
money, I dont have much to buy food for myself and I cant grow more food to sell.
Goal/Aim (what will be accomplished by the design):
The goal/aim of the project is to...
Create a boat that will transport we across water quicker so none of my unsold goods do not
go bad (some of the food I sell rots). I need one that will always be fast, instead of relying on
the wind being good that day.
Target Audience (who will use/benefit from the product)
My target audience is...
Other merchants with the same problem as me so we can all continue to make money.
Major Constraints (which place constraints on design; i.e. materials, cost, time, etc.)
The major constraints are...
Paddleboat Requirements:
The hull of my boat may not be longer than my milk carton
The hull of my boat may not be wider than my milk carton.
My paddlewheels may may extend the length and width of my boat.
I cannot use any materials other than the ones on the lists below
I can only use the materials provided by Mr. Smith (I can use the carton and
chopsticks I am required to provide) In other words, I cannot substitute Mr. Smiths
rubber bands for my rubber bands, or his paperclips for my paperclips.
Student Provided Materials:
1 pair of wooden chopsticks
1/2. gallon paper carton (cardboard kind)
Mr. Smith Provided Paddle boat materials list
8 popsicle sticks
6 rubber bands
10 paper clips
6 staples
6" (inches) tape
4 plastic spoons
Hot glue may be used on paddles only (no hot glue on any part of the hull of your
boat)
Time-Scale (how long will it take to produce your product)
My boat must be finished by Friday, Feb. 3 because I cant lose any more time not selling my
goods.
Design Examples (describes the main features of an existing product that inspires a solution to
the problem) Some examples of good designs are...
A good example is a canoe because it is similar to a paddlewheel boat. As you pull the paddle
through the water, the boat moves forward. This is similar to how I want my design to be, so I
will use this concept of the canoe as inspiration.
I was absent Tuesday
Investigation continued...
What do you need to know to develop a solution to the problem? (These questions should guide
your investigation) Prioritize your list with most important things first.
(Add rows as needed)
Research Question Priority (#) Why it is important Sources
Example: What is the best 3 Hull shape and Internet: pictures of various
hull shape for improved hydrodynamics has an impact boat hull designs
hydrodynamics? on the paddleboats speed
and stability. Interviews of boaters
What is a paddlewheel boat? 2 If I want to build a TCi Textbook
paddlewheel boat, I need to
know what it is to make it a
successful paddlewheel boat
How do paddlewheel boats 3 I also need to know how a TCi textbook
work? paddlewheel boat works to
construct one, or else it will http://www.experscience.com
not be successful. /how-to-make-a-toy-boat/
What materials are best to 4 I need to know what the best http://www.experscience.com
build a paddlewheel boat? materials will be to build my /how-to-make-a-toy-boat/
boat so it can be the best
boat it can be. If I use bad
materials, my boat wont
succeed and I will have
wasted time and money.
Why are paddlewheel boats 5 I need to know the benefits of TCi textbook
better than some other building this boat if I am going
boats? to build it. If there is no
benefit, why build it at all?
How do you build a 1 I need to know how to use http://amysfreeideas.com/Eng
paddlewheel boat from our our provided materials to lish/Paddle_Boat.html
provided materials? build a paddlewheel boat, or
else I cant make a http://www.experscience.com
successful boat. /how-to-make-a-toy-boat/
http://growinggreenhearts.co
m/environmental-education-le
arning/easy-engineering-milk-
carton-paddle-boat/
http://www.ziggityzoom.com/a
ctivity/make-milk-carton-boat
http://www.instructables.com/i
d/Rubber-Band-Powered-Alto
ids-Boat/step4/Using-your-Alt
oids-Boat/
How have paddlewheel boats 6 I want to know how TCi textbook
affected the modern world? paddlewheel boats have
affected the world today, so I
can understand them more.
Respond when your investigation is complete. What sources did you use for research and what
relevant findings did you make. Be specific here, include web addresses, specific individuals,
book titles, etc. Think of this section as answers to the things you listed in the questions above.
The sources I used were...the information I found was...
Research Question Findings Sources
Example: What is the best hull shape After looking at dozens of pictures of Internet:
for improved hydrodynamics? various types of boats, such as, paddle http://www.compositesworld.com/articles
boats, race boats, cargo ships, fishing /the-basics-of-boat-design
boats, etc, I found that a boat with a http://www.thewoodenboatschool.com/b
squared back with a V shaped bow are oatbuilding/boat-design-elements.php
most commonly used, providing the best
hydrodynamics and boat stability. Google Images: pictures of various boat
hull designs
Interviews with frequent boaters
-Sergeant Amos (Coast Guard)
-Private Cunningham (Navy)
-My Dad (fisherman)
-My friend Blake (water skier)
How do you build a paddlewheel boat After looking at multiple DIY sites, I http://amysfreeideas.com/English/Paddl
from our provided materials? found that most boats moved because of e_Boat.html
a rubber band. First, you glue two
popsicle sticks to the sides of the carton, http://www.experscience.com/how-to-ma
making sure they hang off quite a lot. ke-a-toy-boat/
Then, you string a rubber band across
them horizontally. Then you put the http://growinggreenhearts.com/environm
wheel in between the two sides of the ental-education-learning/easy-engineeri
band, and when you spin the rubber ng-milk-carton-paddle-boat/
band, then let it go, the wheel will spin,
making the boat go forward. http://www.ziggityzoom.com/activity/mak
e-milk-carton-boat
http://www.instructables.com/id/Rubber-
Band-Powered-Altoids-Boat/step4/Using
-your-Altoids-Boat/
and other google images
What is a paddlewheel boat? A paddlewheel boat is a boat that moves TCi textbook
when a wheel made of paddles is turned
quickly. How the wheel is turned may be
different depending on which boat, but
the spinning of the wheel is what makes
the boat propel forward. These boats
were first invented in China during the
Song dynasty.
How do paddlewheel boats work? Like I said before, a paddlewheel boat TCi textbook
moves when a wheel made of paddles is
turned. The paddles spin in one http://amysfreeideas.com/English/Paddl
direction, and the boat moves in the e_Boat.html
other direction.
What materials are best to build a I have found that multiple people use http://amysfreeideas.com/English/Paddl
paddlewheel boat? milk cartons for the body of the boats, e_Boat.html
and pieces of the carton to make the
blades of the paddle. Also, many people http://www.experscience.com/how-to-ma
use popsicle sticks or chopsticks to wrap ke-a-toy-boat/
the rubber band around.
http://growinggreenhearts.com/environm
ental-education-learning/easy-engineeri
ng-milk-carton-paddle-boat/
http://www.ziggityzoom.com/activity/mak
e-milk-carton-boat
Why are paddlewheel boats better than First of all, the first paddlewheel boats in TCi textbook
some other boats? China were powered by people walking
on treadmills. This is much more
dependable than hoping the wind is
good when you need if you have a
sailboat. Secondly, the boats were much
faster than previous designs, and could
travel for longer. Lastly, these boats
were easier to maneuver.
How have paddlewheel boats affected Paddlewheels have affected the modern TCi textbook
the modern world? world because they are now used
frequently for recreational activities.
