1. Science Design Challenge: Marshmallow Tower To build a tower as high as possible using spaghetti, string, and tape, that would ... There are many ways of building towers using spaghetti and marshmallows.
Materials:
20 pieces of dry spaghetti
1 medium marshmallow
Scissors
Tape
Meter Stick for measuring height
String

2. Scientific Method The steps : 1. Ask a Question/State the Problem
2. Form a Hypothesis
3. Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
4. Analyze Your Data
5. Draw a Conclusion
6. Communicate Your Results

3. Question: Do you think a wide base or a narrow base will result in a taller tower?

4. Hypothesis: If I build a wide base, then I will have a taller tower.

5. Identification of Variables
Independent Variables:
(What I can control)
2-D Geometric Shapes
Triangle
Square
Circle (Polygon)
3-D Geometric Shapes
Pyramid
Cube
Cylinder or Sphere
Dependent Variable:
(Beats me I don’t know)
Height

6. Select One Independent Variable
Squares and Cubes of fixed sizes Prove or disprove the hypothesis You may or may not have built the tallest tower Gain Scientific Knowledge

7. Engineering Design Process
A series of steps that lead to the development of a new product or system.
STEP 1: Identify the Problem
STEP 2: Brainstorm ( generate ideas & possible solutions)
STEP 3: Design (explore possibilities & select an approach)
STEP 4: Build (Model or Prototype)
STEP 5: Test
STEP 6: Redesign (Refine the design)
STEP 7: Share Solutions

9. No Single “Correct" Solution or Approach
“EXPLORER" METHOD
Typically used for new design ideas or research.
It is useful in initial design and specification stages,
and is often used when in "unfamiliar territory“
Move in some direction
Look at what you find there
Record what you find in your notebook
Analyze findings in terms of where you want to be
Use results of analysis to choose next direction
Back to 1 and continue exploring

10. Summary
A Scientist asks a question and develops an experiment, or set of experiments, to answer that question.
An Engineer uses the engineering design process to create new solutions to problems
Both gain scientific knowledge

11. Design the Tallest Freestanding Spaghetti Tower
Materials :
20 strands of uncooked spaghetti
1 m. masking tape
1 m. kite string
Scissors
Ruler
Meter Stick
12 “ square of cardboard (build & move tower)
Option: Substitute 30 mini-marshmallows for 1 m. of masking tape

12. Properties of Dry Strand of Spaghetti and Mini-Marshmellow
Tension Force
Compression Force
Marshmallows do not hold up to tension
Spaghetti cannot hold much tension; therefore, it breaks very easily
Marshmallows handle compression
Spaghetti cannot hold much compression; therefore, its breaks very easily

13. Problem Solving Tension Force Compression Force
Strategy – Fresh marshmallows are more sticky and grip spaghetti
Strategy – Double up the spaghetti strands (two strands side by side) for extra strength, especially at the foundation
Strategy – Push spaghetti deep into marshmallow
Strategy – Use marshmallows side by side for extra strength and use small pieces of spaghetti to pin marshmallows

14. String handles tension String does not handle compression
Properties of String
Tension Force Compression Force
String handles tension String does not handle compression

15. Design The Tallest Spaghetti Tower That Can Withstand A Load
Materials :
Uncooked spaghetti
1 m. masking tape
1 m. kite string
On large marshmallow placed on top (load)
Scissors
Ruler
12” piece of cardboard (build & move tower)
Option: Substitute 30 mini-marshmallows
for 1 m. masking tape

16. Design the Tallest Spaghetti Tower That Can Withstand The Largest Load
Option:
Which Spaghetti Tower has the best Structure Effectiveness
Structure Effectiveness = (maximum weight structure can hold) / (weight of structure alone)
Weight tower structure
Place a 3x5 file card on top of Tower and add units of mass (washers or pennies) until structural failure

17. Design the Tallest Earthquake Proof Spaghetti Tower
Build a simple, non-motorized earthquake “shake” table
Allow movement in 6 directions:
Back-and forth
side to side, and
up-and-down
To survive an earthquake test, the building must not collapse for 10 seconds after the earthquake begins.

18. Design The Tallest Earthquake Proof Spaghetti Tower Challenge
Materials :
20 strands of uncooked spaghetti
1 m. masking tape
1 m. kite string
Scissors
Ruler
Meter Stick
12” square of cardboard (build & move tower)
Earthquake “Shake” Table
Option: Substitute 30 mini-marshmallows
for 1 m. of masking tape

19. Types Of Waves
Longitudinal Wave
Traverse Wave

20. WAVE
A disturbance that travels through a medium, transporting energy from one location (its source) to another location without transporting matter.
Particles of the medium move
in a direction perpendicular to
the wave motion direction
Particles of the medium move
in a direction parallel to
the wave motion direction

21. Simple Non-Motorized Shake Table
Materials:
Piece of board or plywood into a 12” square
2” x 4” Frame that fits around the wood square with around 1/2” clearance between the outer edge of the square and the inside edge of the frame
Eight Wood Screws
Eight Rubber bands (32 or 64)

22. Assembly:
Mount 2 wood screws on the under side each side of the plywood with ¼” sticking up
Mount wood screws on the top edge of each side of the frame with ¼ “ sticking up
Loop a rubber band around each pair of screws so that the plywood square is suspended like a trampoline within the frame
Option: Motorize the Shake Table
Attach a cell phone underneath the plywood, set to vibrate (vibration motor); then call phone

23. Measuring Earthquakes Richter Scale (Math Scale x 10)

24. Modified Saffir - Simpson Scale (Math Scale x 30 increase in Energy)

25. Design The Tallest Hurricane Proof Spaghetti Tower
Materials :
20 strands of uncooked spaghetti
1 m. masking tape
1 m. kite string
Scissors
Ruler
Meter Stick
Three speed Box Fan
12” square of cardboard (build & move tower)
Option: Substitute 30 mini-marshmallows
for 1 m. of masking tape

26. Measuring Hurricanes Saffir - Simpson Scale

27. Measuring Tornadoes Enhanced Fujita Scale