INDEX

Introduction

Purpose

Hypothesis

Materials

PART ONE

Gateway Structures

PART TWO

3D Geometric Structures: Which is Strongest?

PART THREE

Testing Buildings: Which Design is Strongest?

PART FOUR

Stronger Buildings:

Supports

PART FIVE

Stronger Buildings:  Buttresses and Struts

PART SIX

Earthquake

Simulation: Columns

PROBLEMS WITH

MY EXPERIMENT

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PART TWO

3D Geometric Structures Used in Building: Which is Strongest?

PROCEDURE

First, a lot of one inch plasticine balls were made. Bamboo skewers were cut into about twelve centimetre lengths. The skewers were pushed into the plasticine balls to make the 3D models listed above.

To test the strength of each 3D model, sand bags were put along the center of one of the bamboo skewers or at the top of the pyramid until the models broke. The weight of the bags used was added up and recorded in a chart.

For each test, three trials were done.

Pyramid with Sand Bags

RESULTS

CONCLUSIONS

Which 3D geometric structure is strongest?

The pyramid was the strongest. To break the pyramid, it took almost 9 times more weight than the rectangular prism. The pyramid was hard to break because the weight sitting on the top was spread out in four directions straight to the ground. The other 3D geometric structures broke more easily because the path to the ground took more turns before the weight reached the ground.

.

1. Triangular Prism

2. Pyramid

3. Rectangular Prism

4. Cube

Distribution of Weight: Rectangular Prism

Distribution of Weight: Pyramid