Lesson 3 of 8 · Engineering and Design
Lesson⭐ 30 XP🛠️ Engineer ShopAsking a Question You Can Actually Test
Engineering and Design.
🎯 Your mission
Master the concept. Use it tomorrow.
⚡ The twist
The first design always fails. That's the point.
Mind = Blown
🛠️ The first computer bug was a literal moth stuck inside a machine in 1947.
Make a hypothesis first
Guess: what's the weakest part of this build?
What You'll Learn
"Which paper towel is best?" cannot be answered. "Which paper towel soaks up the most water in 30 seconds?" can, because it names what to measure and for how long. Turning a vague question into a testable one is the first move in every investigation.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Take four vague questions and rewrite each as a testable one that names the measurement and the conditions. Then choose your favourite and list the equipment you would need.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2Which of these is a testable question?
Where you see this in real life
Your phone, your bike, your shoes — all designed with this idea.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Build something — anything — out of stuff in your recycling bin.
For the dinner table
“What's something around the house you'd redesign — and how?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Ready?
Asking a Question You Can Actually Test
Master the concept. Use it tomorrow.
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