Spaguetti tower: a race against the clock

Learning Goals:

• Engineering for structural strength
• Creative problem solving
• Determining variables and controlling them
• Team work
• Time management

 Learning outcomes

• Some shapes and materials are stronger than others.
• Weak materials can be made stronger with good design techniques.
• Distribution of mass is an important consideration when building structures.

Process

1.-Before

• Have a look at some famous towers
• Have a look at some of these crazy structures

The architects and engineers have to design it carefully so that it is safe and ful ls the required purpose.

• Read the instructions: "A race against the clock".
• Read the hints and tips below
• Practice.
• In your groups sketch, discuss and try ideas.

A race against the clock:

• You will be given a limited supplies of materials materials and set the challenge of building as high a tower as you can in a limited time: 30 minutes
• Materials: spaguetti (50 g/ team) and marshmallows (25 g/team).

The spaghetti provides the framework and support for the tower and mini marshmallows are used to make the connectors. Pieces of spaguetti may be broken into desired lenghts.

• Team size: three.
•  Rules:

          1. Only the materials provided may be used.

          2. The highest tower at the end of the class will be the winner.           3.Once time is called a full minute will be waited before teacher measures height. This is to ensure tower stability.

          4. The judge's decision in all matters is final!

 Hints and Tips

• There will be most strain on the base of the tower – think about how you can add strength here.
• The more the marshmallow can grip the spaghetti, the stronger the joint.
• If you don’t use pieces of equal length on each side, your tower may start to twist and topple
• Use shorter pieces of spaghetti or put in braces to strengthen squares and rectangles in your structure. 

2.-The challenge and the winning  

3.- Afterwards

Discussion

• What was the biggest challenge you faced? How did you overcome it?
• What things put a limit on how tall your tower could be?
• How do you think you worked as a group? Did you assume different roles?

Conclusion

• What building techniques make the tower stronger?
• Does the size of the base alter the strength of the tower?
• Does the placing of the marshmallows affect the strength of the tower?