Summary: This activity represents the difficulty in deconstructing a cardboard tower without collapse.
Key Concepts: Structural stability and maintaining symmetry
Student Involvement: Students will try to disassemble a tower consisting of 3 cardboard levels that are held up by 5, 4, and 3 tubes (from bottom to top) and the top level will have 2 tubes.
Engineering Roles: Civil engineering
Real World Connections: How buildings are designed or demolished
Materials: 14 small cardbaord cylinders and 3 cardboard sheets Setup: Five small cardboard cylinders, cardboard sheet, four cylinders, cardboard sheet, three cylinders, cardboard sheet, two cylinders.
Suggestions: Attempt to get every level down to one cylinder and maintain stability.