Mr. Hart’s Year 11 PathwayTower Challenge
Using only five pieces of A3 paper and one metre of sticky tape, our task was to build a tower that could stand unsupported with a fan blowing at it from two metres away. Our tower reached 4.5m in height and the ceiling height in the lab was only 3m ,so we carried it outside to put it together.
We found that thicker tubes are stronger and can carry more load without collapsing, but also have more wind resistance so more likely to be blown over. The trick to making strong tubes it to roll them smoothly with no creases – better still, roll them into cones which can be stacked to build up height. The seams are not parallel to the axis of the tube, so you don’t get weak points.
Maybe you could beat our record height?
Rafig, Lifeng, Victor & Kate
Year 11 Pathway Students
