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Student Name: ____________Julia Oryszak____________

Unit 3: Systems

Lesson 3: Reverse Engineering

File 3.3.3: Reverse Engineering Worksheet

Below is a list of the steps in the reverse engineering process. Document your work as you
reverse engineer the product.

Prediction
What is the purpose of this product? I think that the purpose is to be able to beat us. If they
have an exact copy of one of our military machines then they have a chance at being able to
undertake us.
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How does it work? It drops bombs on cities during wars.
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What market was it designed to appeal to? _Military.
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List some of the design objectives for the product. Hole in the wing
-Engine flaws
- Repair patch
paint scheme
Einstein had feared that atomic bombs "might very well prove too heavy for transport by
air." The atomic bomb turned out to be well within the capacity of the B-29. The atomic
bomb was "taylored to fit the plane rather than the
reverse."__________________________________________________________________
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List some of the constraints that may have influenced the design. __The Great Depression.
The war that was going on.
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Foundations of
Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design

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Foundations of
Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design

3
Observation (before you take it apart)
How do you think it works? _I think that up in where the pilot sits when you press a
button it sends a signal to the container where the bombs are and lets them loose.
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How does it meet design objectives (overall)?
The Soviets copied EVERYTHING that the B-29s had.
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Why is it designed the way it is? It was designed the way that it was because it had to meet
some certain military standards (for that time) and had to be able to do certain things, and
withstand so much.
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Disassemble
How does it work? _It dropped bombs.
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How is it made? Steel,
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Foundations of
Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design

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Part Name

Quantity

Material

Function

steel

Lbs.

steel

Wing

Steel

Tail

Steel

The outer
layer of the
plane
Keep plane
in air.
Steer the
plane

Overall
Dimensions
varies

Core
Technology
materials

43.05 m.

Mechanical

20.02 m.

Mechanical

Any surprises? No
Analyze
Carefully examine and analyze subsystems (i.e. structural, mechanical, and electrical)
and develop annotated sketches that include measurements and notes on components,
system design, safety, and controls. (Attach sketches to this sheet.)
Test
Carefully reassemble the product.
Operate the device and record observations about its performance in terms of
functionality (operational and ergonomic) and projected durability.
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Documentation
Design (functionality, form (geometry), and materials)

2012 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Foundations of
Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design

5
List the major flaws and major successes of the product.
- Seeing as how the soviets copied the American plane, they really didnt have the
developmental ideas that the Americans did. But them just copying it to the exact is
a great feat. :)
- The planes engines could have caught fire at any point in time.
- There was a hole in the wing that nobody really bothered to fix.
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Identify any refinements that might enhance the products usefulness. Consider material
choice, manufacturing methods, safety, durability, usability.
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They could have used a little bit more of a durable material, that might have been a little bit
lighter to be able to carry more.
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- There were some repair patches that probably could have been fixed better
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2012 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Foundations of
Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design

6
The following rubric will be used to assess your
Category
Below Target
The student makes
an unreasonable
Prediction
prediction concerning
how the product
should operate.
The student makes
unreasonable
observations
Observation
concerning how the
product was
designed.
The student
disassembles the
Disassembly
product and records
how some of the
parts work.
The student sketches
and records
information about
Analysis
some of the parts,
their sizes, and how
they are designed
and work.
The student
reassembles the
product and records
Testing
some observations
concerning
performance.
The student
assembles a
notebook containing
some of the
documentation from
the procedures
Documentation
above.

extension activity:
At Target
The student makes a
reasonable prediction
concerning how the
product should
operate.
The student makes
reasonable
observations
concerning how the
product was
designed.
The student
disassembles the
product and records
how many of the
parts work.
The student sketches
and records
information about
most of the parts,
their sizes, and how
they are designed
and work.
The student
reassembles the
product and records
observations
concerning
performance.
The student
assembles a
notebook containing
all the
documentation from
the procedures
above.

Above Target
The student makes
accurate predictions
concerning how the
product should
operate.
The student makes
accurate
observations
concerning how the
product was
designed.
The student
disassembles the
product and records
how all of the parts
work.
The student sketches
and records
information about all
of the parts, their
sizes, and how they
are designed and
work.
The student expertly
reassembles the
product and records
detailed observations
concerning
performance.
The student
assembles a
notebook containing
all the
documentation from
the procedures
above. Additionally,
the student includes
schematics, lists, and
recommendations for
refinements and
upgrades.

2012 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Foundations of
Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design