Canals and Dams! by Anita Yasuda

Author:Anita Yasuda
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nomad Press

SUPPLIES

*engineering notebook and pencil

*large marshmallows

*sour candy belts

*scissors

*pennies

Civil engineers use strong shapes to make canals and dams stable. In this experiment, you will test a beam and an arch.

1Which do you think is stronger? A beam or an arch? Start a scientific method worksheet and make a prediction.

2Put a sour candy belt across two marshmallows. How far apart should you space the marshmallows? How long should you make the belt? Use trial and error to find the best lengths.

3How much weight can the sour candy beam support? Add one penny at a time to the center of the candy. Record your results in your engineering notebook. How does your data compare with your prediction?

4Remove the pennies. Gently bend a second piece of candy into an arch and place it beneath the first.

5Add one penny at a time to the center of the candy. Record your results in your notebook and compare your data with your prediction. Which shape is stronger?

THINK ABOUT IT: Why do engineers use arches in their structures? Can you find examples of arches in other things around you?

TRY THIS! Do you think your results will be different if the beam and arch are shorter or longer? Conduct this experiment again and compare your results.

WORDS TO KNOW

beam: a strong horizontal structure that provides support.

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