Leaning Tower of Pasta
Using spaghetti and marshmallows, students experiment with different structures to determine which ones are able to handle the greatest amount of load. Their experiments help them to further understand the effects that compression and tension forces have with respect to the strength of structures. Spaghetti cannot hold much tension or compression; therefore, it breaks very easily. Marshmallows handle compression well, but do not hold up to tension.
Students investigate compression and tension forces and examine their affect on the strength of structuresCopyright Wikimedia Commons http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/A_Classical_View_of_Leaning_Tower_in_Pisa.jpg
Engineers consider tension and compression forces when designing a building or structure, and choosing the materials to build it. All structures must be able to handle the forces that act upon them so they will not fail and injure people, wildlife or the environment. Like all structures, the foundation, frame and joints of a skyscraper must be able to withstand enormous tension and compression forces — from the weight of its own materials, the load of people and equipment it holds and the impact of natural forces such as wind, snow and earthquakes.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe how compression and tension affect the stability of a structure
- Compare their model to others to understand why some models are stronger than others
- Use number sense to correlate the strength of a structure to the amount of weight it holds
- Explain why engineers consider tension and compression forces when designing and choosing the appropriate materials for a building or structure