What Is Mechanical Engineering?

Boss Fight · Week 1

Boss: Guess the Weight

No scale allowed for 10 minutes

Uncle TJ (or a family member) places 5–10 household objects in a box. You cannot weigh them for the first round.

Phases

  1. Phase 1: Estimate

    For each object: hold it, shake it if safe, estimate mass in grams or kg. Write your reasoning (size? material? compare to known object?).

  2. Phase 2: Measure

    Weigh each object. Record actual mass. Calculate your error factor (estimate ÷ actual, or the other way — pick one and stay consistent).

  3. Phase 3: Post-mortem

    Which estimate was worst? Why? What trick will you use next time?

Rubric — score yourself honestly

Reasoning quality (35%)

4: Every estimate has clear decomposition or comparison

3: Most estimates explained

2: Some guesses without reasoning

1: Numbers only

Accuracy (25%)

4: 80%+ within 2× of actual

3: 60%+ within 2×

2: Some within 2×

1: Most off by 10×+

Units & recording (20%)

4: Clean table, correct units throughout

3: Minor unit slips

2: Missing units in places

1: No structured record

Post-mortem honesty (20%)

4: Specific insight that would improve next round

3: Identifies what went wrong

2: Vague reflection

1: No reflection

Evidence checklist

Engineer's Log

Boss debrief — Boss: Guess the Weight: What worked? What failed? What would v2 be?