Popsicle Stick Explosion Challenge - Sponsored by JCVI
Popsicle Stick Explosion Challenge - Sponsored by JCVI
Embedded Files
This engineering challenge of weaving sticks in a very precise way is a combination of art, math, potential energy, kinetic energy, precision and patience. Create your stick explosion as long as you can.
Did you know that in one human body there are nearly 37 trillion cells? Each cell contains DNA and if we uncoiled the DNA from each, then linked them all end to end, the chain would be long enough to wrap around Earth about 2.8 million times! Whoa that’s pretty long!
Let’s see how long you can make your stick explosion before turning that potential energy into kinetic energy.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
A box of Large Crafting Sticks – Tongue depressor size work best
A flat surface
DIRECTIONS
DIRECTIONS
Here is an instructional video for you to follow if you’d like. Watch it here.
1. Begin weaving the sticks over/under while holding the end of your chain.
2. Once you reach about 5-6 sticks you can install a hold at the beginning so you can continue (see video).
3. Weave sticks until you’ve reached the desired length and place a horizontal stick at the end.
4. Measure how long your chain is. Now measure how long each stick is and multiply that number by how many sticks you used.
5. How long would it be if it wasn’t weaved?
TROUBLE SHOOTING TIPS
TROUBLE SHOOTING TIPS
Use a book or something heavy to hold down the beginning part of your chain to avoid it exploding until the time is right.
STILL CURIOUS?
STILL CURIOUS?
Try this additional challenge!
Can you double the potential energy if you weave the sticks a certain way vs another?
There are so many different kinds of weaves you can do. Try as many different versions as you can. We can’t wait to see them!
SHARE
SHARE
Please share your learning with SDUSD here we will post your pictures and videos here for all to see.
Page updated
Report abuse