Musical Plates: Engineering Solutions

[gb]

When you finish making modifications to the building in the activity
one member from each group should click reply and answer the following
questions:

1. What materials did you use?
2. Approximately how much did those materials cost?
3. How much did your modifications improve the buildings response to
an earthquake event?
4. Any thoughts on how this would work in your classroom?

[Kelly Lake]

We used 4 popsicle sticks and 35 cm of tape to hold in place. Cost
was 5.75. The modifications were successful in keeping the shift
negligible. This activity would be successful, the students would
appreciate the ability to test a real life situation, and the use of
other interdisciplinary skills is good.

[Bob]

Our Group was seated in the back corner of the room and our total cost
was $4. We spent money on tape, foil, 2 index cards and 2 popsickle
sticks. Our cheeper and less effective model cost a total of 10 cents
using only foil.

> > 4.  Any thoughts on how this would work in your classroom?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Albert]

We built a more sturdy base to support the building. We used popsicle
sticks to widen the base and rubber bands to make it flexible to
withstand the siesmic waves.

4 popsicles = $4
5 rubber bands= $1.50
4 Paper Clips= 1.00
$6.50

Cost for Safety= Priceless

> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Patricia McCarthy]

We used Popsicle sticks, tape and clay. The cost was approximately 12
dollars. There are ways to decrease cost.
These were used to create a pendulum system that offset the motion of
the ground, which stabilized our building.
The open ended nature is very engaging and we think adding unexpected
materials will spur creativity.

[amanda]

We used 2 popsicle sticks and 40cm of tape. The total cost was $4. We
cut each stick in half to make 4 stilts. We used the straight ends
and
faced them down when we attached each one to a corner.
With NO support, our level was off by 5mm. With the stilts, there was
no change in level.
This would be a great way to implement higher level thinking skills.
They would have to analyze, hypothesize, create, and evaluate.

On Jul 9, 9:42 am, gb <greg.bar...@gmail.com> wrote:

[karen]

>
> 1.  What materials did you use?

We used two index cards, 5 rubber bands and 2 popsicle sticks.
The index cards were folded accordian style style and held in place by
rubber bands. The index cards were crossed and the cross was held by
a ruber band. Each popsicle stick was attached at the end of the index
cards and attached to the rubberbands. so it looked like the roman
number 10.

> 2.  Approximately how much did those materials cost?

$4.40

> 3.  How much did your modifications improve the buildings response to
> an earthquake event?

The design reduced by did not eliminate the tilt caused by an
earthquake.

> 4.  Any thoughts on how this would work in your classroom?

This project will bring out those creative students who are less
interested in science but become interested in coming up with the
innovative ideas.