Question

marty is developing a new way to heat an airplane’s windshield to prevent it from accumulating ice when in flight. a thin layer of clear, conductive material is injected between two layers of thick windshield plastic. a very small electric current is run through the inner material to keep the plastic layers warm.
how might using a model help marty develop his design?
a. a model could be used to test his design in a lab.
b. airplane manufacturers could be sold models to use in their new planes.
c. a model could be used for automobile windshields.
d. marty could use a model to discover a new type of plastic for windshields.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Option A: A model of the windshield design can be created and tested in a lab to see if the heating mechanism works, identify potential issues, and refine the design. This is a valid use of a model in the design development process.
• Option B: Selling models to manufacturers is not related to helping Marty develop his design; it's about commercialization, not design development.
• Option C: Using the model for automobile windshields is irrelevant to Marty's goal of developing an airplane windshield design.
• Option D: A model of the windshield (not a model for discovering plastic) is used for testing the heating design, and discovering new plastic is not the purpose of the model here.

Answer:

A. A model could be used to test his design in a lab.