Popsicle Trusses
Does the shape beams make when they come together make a difference in their strength? Beams in civil engineering have an important role to play in ensuring a building or bridge stands up, supports the weight it should, and doesn't bend or collapse under normal use. In this week's family science project, students and families use popsicle sticks and binder clips to investigate the relationship between the shape of trusses in a building and their strength.
- Popsicle Stick Trusses: What Shape Is Strongest? (science activity at Scientific American)
- The Effect of Bridge Design on Weight Bearing Capacity (related Science Buddies project idea)
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