Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

i am trying to find out how to build a small scale project, the only real requirments is that it must be as big as a normal size shoe box, no bigger. my teacher is testing our structures with a machine that will shake our projects, my project cannot break or crack. I am tryingto build a little cuilding that can withstand this shaking. so i was wondering if anyone had any ideas about this because i have none!


this project is due 1/25/07

if anyone has ANY Ideas pleas reply to this[b[/b]

First thing is to pick a scale. A shoebox is about 4 inches high in its shortest dimension. If the scale is 1: 40 , then 4" in the model would be 13 ft, 4 in the structure. If the scale is 1: 60, 4" in the model would be 20 ft in the structure. Suppose one makes a model of a house at 1:60 scale. the walls of a house are made up of 2 X 4 (actually 1.5 X 3.5 ) studs with sheathing, etc. So a "2 X 4" in 1:60 scale would be about 1/32 inch X 1/16 inch. I'm fairly certain that hobby shops sell basswood strips that are appropriate sizes for scale buildings. You might have to pick a different scale, such as 1: 50 to match the material available. At 1:60 scale, 3/4 inch thick plywood sheathing could be scale modeled by 0.012 inch thick cardboard. You would have to glue the parts together , but most modern houses are glued together. Nails simply hold things together while the glue sets.

There is probably a house being built in your neighborhood. You could get an idea of how to build your structure. Hint. Make it simple, with only one or two rooms.