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Hands-on Activity: Gummy Tower

Hands-on Activity: Gummy Tower. Who will create the best design?. Activity based on “Leaning Tower of Pasta” Source : Digital Library, TeachEngineering , http://www.teachengineering.org. Gummy Tower. How can buildings support people?.

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Hands-on Activity: Gummy Tower

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  1. Hands-on Activity: Gummy Tower Who will create the best design? Activity based on “Leaning Tower of Pasta” Source: Digital Library, TeachEngineering, http://www.teachengineering.org

  2. Gummy Tower How can buildings support people? • Engineers work with architects and scientists to understand what makes materials break. They use what they learn to design strong structures. • Engineers may be able to find very strong materials but they cannot use them in a structure because the materials are too expensive. How do really tall buildings stay up? How do sky scrapers resist wind?

  3. Real-world connection Structural engineers are a key part of the design and construction team, working alongside architects and other professionals. Together they create all kinds of structures from houses, stadiums, hospitals, bridges, oil rigs, space satellites, and so on! Structural engineers are specialists in design, construction, repair, conversion and conservation. They are concerned with all aspects of a structure and its stability. Source: The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE)." How to Become a Structural Engineer. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Aug. 2014.

  4. Gummy Tower Just like an engineer, today you will be constrained! Using limited materials,your job is to design and build a structure that is as tall and strong as possible, using only gummy bears and toothpicks.

  5. Vocabulary Think about what forces will be acting upon your structure Compression is when parts are pushedtogether Tension is when parts are pulled apart Load is the weight or mass a structure supports

  6. Questions to Consider Prior to Activity Is it better to have the toothpick or a gummy bear under tension? Under compression? Is it better to have the toothpick or a gummy bear under compression? How will you design the tallest, strongest structure using limited resources?

  7. Instructions

  8. Post-Activity Discussion How tall was your structure? How much weight did you put on your structure before it fell? Why do you think some buildings held more weight than others before falling? What materials would you choose next time if you were to build a structure? Why?

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