Strong Structures
What is the strength of a structure?
how much weight a structure can hold
What is the stability of a structure?
The stability of a structure is it's ability to stay in one place and not fall over.
List 3 strong materials.
metal, wood, thick plastic
This is an example of a famous structure in Italy.
The leaning tower of Pisa.
What is a triangle?
A 3-sided shape.
List 3 things that make a structure strong.
Triangles, Strong Materials, Struts and Ties
Wide base, strong and durable materials, only as tall as necessary.
Is paper a strong material?
It depends on how it is folded/used.
This is an example of a famous structure in China.
The Great Wall of China.
Which is stronger: square or triangle?
Triangle.
A chair that holds a person without breaking is an example of being what?
Strong (and stable if it doesn’t tip)
Give one example of a stable structure.
Check with Mrs. Duval!
List 3 examples of durable materials.
metal, steel, wood, glass, ...
This is an example of a famous structure in Toronto, Ontario.
The CN Tower.
Why are triangles strong?
They keep their shape and spread force evenly.
What is the strongest shape?
Triangle!
Imagine you built a structure with legos that keeps falling over, how can you make it more stable?
Make the base wider; build in a triangular shape.
What is flexibility?
Flexibility is the ability to bend without breaking.
The Eiffel Tower.
What happens to a square under force?
It can change shape or collapse.
True or False - Wood is stronger than steel.
False!
True or False - A house built of cards is a stable structure.
False!
When do we need materials to be flexible? Give an example of a structure.
Skyscrapers - sway in the wind.
Tent - needs to be pulled tight to keep rain out.
Say the name of another famous structure that we studied in this unit.
Machu Pichu
Taj Mahal
Great Barrier Reef
Space Needle
How do triangles help bridges?
They create strong frames (trusses) that support loads.