Engineering principles are put to the test as your team works to survive an impending windstorm. Can you create a structure that will keep you safe against the elements.
Materials for Building:
4 index cards
2 pieces of construction paper
10 craft sticks
Masking tape, 36 in.
4 straws
Ruler
Small fan or hair dryer
Method:
Design and construct a structure to withstand a windstorm (small fan or hair dryer).
Structure must have a roof and a working door.
Structure can only use the materials provided.
Test your structure!
Place your structure on a table. Do not attach your structure in any way to the table.
Place the small fan or hair dryer 6-12 in. from your structure — choose a consistent distance for testing all structures.
Turn fan on for 10 seconds. Successful structures should not move.
Take It Back to Class:
What did you learn from other teams’ designs? Could elements of their designs be used to improve your structure?
Introduce height and size constraints or limit the use of certain materials. Can your design adapt to meet the constraints?
What other natural forces might a building need to withstand? Consider all types of environments – are there some forces that are unique to certain locations?