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Science project. By Ben Heath. Big Question . Are shorter buildings more stable than taller buildings? ?. Hypothesis.
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Science project By Ben Heath
Big Question Are shorter buildings more stable than taller buildings? ?
Hypothesis If there was an earthquake then I predict that that the taller, skinnier buildings will fall first because they are not as stable as a shorter, thicker one. I think short, thicker buildings are more stable than tall, skinny buildings.
Interesting Facts • Earth’s plates move and slide together and then, occasionally they might get stuck! • So when they eventually give the stored energy, it makes a series of shockwaves. • This creates an earthquake. • It might be very mild so it is not noticeable. • It could also be very fierce making buildings and other structures collapse.
Experiment For my experiment I am going to build a shake table to simulate an earthquake. I am going to use Legos to build different sized towers.
Materials • Lego bricks • One large, flat Lego plate • Ruler • 2 boards • Scissors • 4 small rubber balls of the same size (about one inch in diameter) • 2 large rubber bands (to hold the 2 boards in place)
Procedures (Step-by-Step Instructions) 1. Create a shake table (to simulate an earthquake). a. Place two boards on to of one another. b. Place a ball in each corner in the middle of the boards an inch away. c. Secure the boards together with a rubber band on each end. 2. Secure the Lego plate on the top board. 3. Build different sizes of Lego towers. Measure each tower height. 4. Put each Lego tower in the middle of the shake table. 5. Pull the top part of the shake table back, and measure it, and then let it go to see if the towers fall over. 6. Repeat it pulling it back farther and farther until it falls over.
Observations • The skinnier building fellbut the shorter, thicker one did not.
Analysis of Data • Yes. The experiment tested my hypothesis. • The taller skinnier building fell over first. The other buildings did not fall over at all.
Conclusion • Yes, my hypothesis was correct. • One thing I would change is using the rubber bands because they kept shifting. • What could I use in place of the rubber bands? • What would happen if I used stronger materials?
References • Bill Nye the Science Guy: Earthquakes. Disney Educational Productions, 2004. DVD. • "Building the Tallest Tower." Building the Tallest Tower. Web. 04 Oct. 2009. <www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects>. • Fradin, Judy, and Dennis Fradin. Witness to Disaster Earthquakes (Witness to Disaster). New York: National Geographic Children's, 2008. Print. • Morris, Neil. Inside Earthquakes. Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens Pub, 2007. Print. • Eathquakes: How They are Measured. TMW Media Group, 2004. DVD. • Shone, Rob. Earthquakes (Graphic Natural Disasters). New York: Rosen Central, 2007. Print.