Building Structures
Strength - Triangles
It doesn't always come from material, but from shape.
Why Are Triangles Stronger Than Squares.mp4Triangles v. Squares
Tension and Compression Forces
Strength - Columns
It doesn't always come from material, but from shape.
Challenge - Using only a piece of paper, support a book 4 inches above the table surface. You can do anything with the paper you want. You will have one piece of tape.
The cylindrical shaped column is the strongest is because of corners. The flat sides of the shapes do not support structural load. Therefore, it is the corners of the shapes that give the columns their strength. The triangle has three corners to support its load, the square has four, the hexagon has six and the octagon has eight corners. In contrast, the circle can be viewed as having 360 corners. Thus, the circle is by far the strongest shaped column.
Column Strength Test - Round columns v. square columns
Strength
Changing the shape of paper can greatly increase its strength.
PAPER ARCH.docxDownload and print this document (above) to fold the paper arch.
