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OBJECTIVES:
Can you support the weight of a book on top of a flimsy piece of
paper? You can if you reshape that piece of paper
by folding, rolling or bending it. Humans have always
taken simple materials and reshaped or combined them to form tools,
artwork, machines and other objects to fulfill a need.
Engineers know that a material's strength varies with its
shape and structure. Some shapes and structures can support more
weight than others.
In this activity you will work in a team and build
a portable structure out of paper and tape that will support
the weight of a book.
You will learn that you can create new
objects from everyday ordinary materials.
Have fun!
STEPS TO FOLLOW:
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Divide your class into teams of 4-5 people. Each team receives a stack
of paper and a roll of masking tape.
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Your challenge is to build a structure at least 1' (one foot) high
which can support a book. You can build your structure anyway you like, but
your structure must be portable! (This means you may not
fasten or connect it to a table or other fixed structure.)
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MATERIALS:
For each team of 4-5 students:
30 Sheets 8 1/2" X 11" Notebook Or Colored Paper
Roll of Masking Tape
Book
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Build your structure. Use your imagination!
Keep in mind the information you learned in the
background section,
but feel free to ask your teacher
or presenter to help you get started in the right direction.
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Test your structure. Place the book on your structure.
Can your structure support the book?
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Extensions: Have teams try successively heavier books on their structures.
How much weight can your structure hold? If a sheet of paper costs
$1000 and an inch of tape costs $100 (or an centimeter of tape costs
$40),
how much does your team's structure cost? Which structure holds
the most weight for the least amount of money?
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