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Build a tower using spaghetti and marshmallows, exploring design concepts and scientific methods. Analyze variables and test hypotheses to construct the tallest and sturdiest tower within a budget. Experiment, observe, and optimize designs to gain scientific knowledge.
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Engineering Design Challenge:Spaghetti TowerTo construct a tower as high as possible using spaghetti and marshmallows. ...There are many ways of building towers using spaghetti and marshmallows.
Scientific Method The steps : Ask a Question Do Background Research Construct a Hypothesis Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion Communicate Your Results
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W8qkf96Hp8 • The Eiffel Tower in Paris is possibly the most famous tower in the world. This iron tower, built in the French capital between 1887 and 1889, was designed by the engineer Gustave Eiffel. Because Eiffel had built many bridges, he understood that the tower needed to be able to withstand high winds. So he used a lot of maths to work out what the design of the tower needed to be.
Cranes • The first cranes were made in Ancient Greece and were used for building. Cranes are used for lifting and moving objects, most often at a height. They generally use a series of cables and a metal tower structure. All cranes have a counterweight to stop them toppling over when they are lifting heavy objects.
Cranes • The first cranes were made in Ancient Greece and were used for building. Cranes are used for lifting and moving objects, most often at a height. They generally use a series of cables and a metal tower structure. All cranes have a counterweight to stop them toppling over when they are lifting heavy objects.
Question: Do you think a wide base or a narrow base will result in a taller tower?
Hypothesis: If I build a wide base, then I will have a taller tower.
Independent Variables: • (What I can control) • 2-D Geometric Shapes • Triangle • Square • Circle (Polygon) • 3-D Geometric Shapes • Pyramid • Cube • Cylinder or Sphere Dependent Variable: (Beats me I don’t know) Height Identification of Variables
V Squares and Cubes of fixed sizes Prove or disprove the hypothesis You may or may not have built the tallest tower Gain Scientific Knowledge
No Single “Correct" Solution or Approach • “EXPLORER" METHOD • Typically used for new design ideas or research. • It is useful in initial design and specification stages, • and is often used when in "unfamiliar territory“ • Move in some direction • Look at what you find there • Record what you find in your notebook • Analyze findings in terms of where you want to be • Use results of analysis to choose next direction • Back to 1 and continue exploring
Summary A Scientist asks a question and develops an experiment, or set of experiments, to answer that question. An Engineer uses the engineering design process to create new solutions to problems Both gain scientific knowledge
Objective: • Construct a tower as high as possible using spaghetti (members) and marshmallows (joints). Pieces of spaghetti (members) may be broken into desired lengths.
Instructions • Build the tallest tower you can out of marshmallows (joints) and spaghetti (members). • The catch? You've got a budget of only 400 euro. One piece of spaghetti (member) costs ten euro and each marshmallow (joint) costs five euro. • In your group plan how you are going to build the tower . You can all sketch a design and then compare your designs and buildings. • Have a member from your group be the banker. They will keep track of how much your team spends. Each time you need materials, go to the banker. If you buy materials you decide not to use, you may return them to the banker for money. • Before you begin building or buying your materials, draw your design. Figure out ways to make the tower taller and sturdier. • Now test your designs by building your towers. • How will you make your tower both tall AND sturdy? Are there adjustments to the design that you need to make?
Discussion • What building techniques make the tower stronger? • Does the placing of the marshmallows affect the strength of the tower? • Could you build a stronger tower with more of the same materials? What alternative materials would be better? • Does the size of the base alter the strength of the tower? • Is it possible to make a bridge using a similar method? How could you test it? • How do you think you worked as a group? Did you assume different roles? Did all groups work in the same way?
Properties of Dry Strand of Spaghetti and Mini-Marshmellow Tension Force Compression Force • Marshmallows do not hold up to tension • Spaghetti cannot hold much tension; therefore, it breaks very easily • Marshmallows handle compression • Spaghetti cannot hold much compression; therefore, its breaks very easily
Problem Solving Tension Force Compression Force Strategy – Fresh marshmallows are more sticky and grip spaghetti Strategy – Double up the spaghetti strands (two strands side by side) for extra strength, especially at the foundation Strategy – Push spaghetti deep into marshmallow Strategy – Use marshmallows side by side for extra strength and use small pieces of spaghetti to pin marshmallows
Properties of String Tension Force Compression Force String handles tension String does not handle compression
Design The Tallest Spaghetti Tower That Can Withstand A Load Materials : Uncooked spaghetti 1 m. masking tape 1 m. kite string On large marshmallow placed on top (load) Scissors Ruler 12” piece of cardboard (build & move tower) Option: Substitute 30 mini-marshmallows for 1 m. masking tape
Design the Tallest Spaghetti Tower That Can Withstand The Largest Load Option: • Which Spaghetti Tower has the best Structure Effectiveness • Structure Effectiveness = (maximum weight structure can hold) / (weight of structure alone) • Weight tower structure • Place a 3x5 file card on top of Tower and add units of mass (washers or pennies) until structural failure
Design the Tallest Earthquake Proof Spaghetti Tower Build a simple, non-motorized earthquake “shake” table Allow movement in 6 directions: Back-and forth side to side, and up-and-down To survive an earthquake test, the building must not collapse for 10 seconds after the earthquake begins.
Design The Tallest Earthquake Proof Spaghetti Tower Challenge • Materials : • 20 strands of uncooked spaghetti • 1 m. masking tape • 1 m. kite string • Scissors • Ruler • Meter Stick • 12” square of cardboard (build & move tower) • Earthquake “Shake” Table • Option: Substitute 30 mini-marshmallows • for 1 m. of masking tape
Types Of Waves Longitudinal Wave Traverse Wave
WAVE A disturbance that travels through a medium, transporting energy from one location (its source) to another location without transporting matter. Particles of the medium move in a direction perpendicular to the wave motion direction Particles of the medium move in a direction parallel to the wave motion direction
Simple Non-Motorized Shake Table • Materials: • Piece of board or plywood into a 12” square • 2” x 4” Frame that fits around the wood square with around 1/2” clearance between the outer edge of the square and the inside edge of the frame • Eight Wood Screws • Eight Rubber bands (32 or 64)
Assembly: Mount 2 wood screws on the under side each side of the plywood with ¼” sticking up Mount wood screws on the top edge of each side of the frame with ¼ “ sticking up Loop a rubber band around each pair of screws so that the plywood square is suspended like a trampoline within the frame Option: Motorize the Shake Table Attach a cell phone underneath the plywood, set to vibrate (vibration motor); then call phone
Modified Saffir - Simpson Scale(Math Scale x 30 increase in Energy)
Design The Tallest Hurricane Proof Spaghetti Tower Materials : • 20 strands of uncooked spaghetti • 1 m. masking tape • 1 m. kite string • Scissors • Ruler • Meter Stick • Three speed Box Fan • 12” square of cardboard (build & move tower) Option: Substitute 30 mini-marshmallows for 1 m. of masking tape
