Calling all structural engineers! Create a paper column and test different designs to see which will hold the most weight. Engineers are problem solvers and they are always testing their designs to see which one works best. This activity is a great way to practice your structural engineering skills.
What do you think makes a building strong (material, shape, size, etc.)?
Using plain old printer paper and books, which column shape will be the strongest: circle, square or triangle?
What you'll need:
All you need for this experiment is paper (at least 3 pieces), tape, and books!
1. Create a circular column with the first piece of paper and tape it together.
2. Fold the next piece in three sections and tape together to form a triangular column.
3. Fold the last piece of paper in four equal sections and tape it together to form a square column.
4. Carefully place one book at a time on each shape. Which shape can hold the most books? Which shape collapsed first?
5. Why do you think the _____________ is the strongest shape?
Explanation
The circle column is the strongest! The weight of the books is evenly distributed because it does not have any corners or edges.
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