Building Basics
What is important for a tower to have so it doesn't fall over?
A strong base
What is a guess you make before you test something called?
Hypothesis
What does a bridge help people do?
Cross over something (like water or a road)
What simple machine helps you go up instead of climbing straight?
A ramp
What can make a paper airplane fly differently?
Change the folds or shape
What tool helps you measure how long something is?
A ruler or tape measure
What do you do to test your hypothesis?
Do an experiment
Which is usually stronger: one block standing up or two blocks stacked carefully?
Two blocks stacked carefully
What simple machine helps lift a flag?
A pulley
I have four wheels but I'm not alive. I can take you places far and wide. What am I?
A car
What do engineers (like yourselves) use to stick things together?
Glue/tape
What do you do during an experiment?
Observe & collect data
What part of a bridge holds it up?
Supports or pillars
What simple machine allows a seesaw to move?
A lever
I go up, down, twist, and turn. Engineers build me for lots of fun. What am I?
A rollercoaster
If your tower keeps falling, what should you do?
Change the design and try again.
Because one experiment may not be enough to prove anything. So they have to do it again..and again.. and again!
Why do engineers test bridges before people use them?
To make sure they're safe
Which simple machine has a wheel and a rod through the middle?
A wheel & axle
What is heavier? A pound of feathers or a pound of rocks?
Trick question - they're the same weight
What shape is strongest for building bridges?
A triangle
After your experiment is over, what should you do?
Draw a conclusion
If a bridge bends too much, is that a good thing or a bad thing? Why?
Bad (it may be not strong enough)
An axe, a knife, and a doorstop are all examples of which simple machine?
A wedge
I carry people up and down, but I never walk. What am I?