Discover Engineering in Central Texas

This experiment is a part of Zoom from www.pbs.org/zoom.  Provided at the end is a supplemental powerpoint/handout for the students. 

Grade Level:  Elementary School, 1^st-6^th

Related classroom topics:  Civil Engineering, Force

Supplies Needed: 

Divide students into groups of 2-3.  Each group will need: 

·        2 sheets of newspaper

·        Ruler

Procedure: 

1.      Give each group 2 sheets of newspaper.

2.      Have several rulers spread out through the classroom for the students to use. 

3.      Build the tallest tower you can by bending, tearing, crumpling, or rolling the newspaper. 

4.      Keep redesigning the tower until it is as tall as you can make it. 

5.      The tower must stand without falling over for at least 30 seconds, measure this tallest height. 

Extensions: 

Allow students to use tape, use books as a foundation to support the bottom, use different kinds of paper (tissue/copier/carboard).  Substitute 15 pipe cleaners for the newspaper sheets and instruct students to build the tallest tower--a handout for this extension of the experiment is available in the attachments (this version is provided by the Women in Engineering Program at UT Austin).

Related topics you could discuss:  Force, civil engineering

Hints/Tips:  To make newspaper strong enough to stand up try changing its shape by rolling it into a tube, crumpling it, or using folds.  Also, create a steady wide base at the bottom to distribute the forces.

Experiment Submitter:  Zoom from pbskids.org/zoom