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
 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
Question:
Do you think a wide base or a narrow
base will result in a taller tower?
 Hypothesis:
If I build a wide base, then I will
have a taller tower.
 Identification of Variables
Independent Variables: Dependent Variable:
(What I can control) (Beats me I dont
know)
2-D Geometric Shapes
Triangle Height
Square
Circle (Polygon)

3-D Geometric Shapes

Pyramid
Cube
Cylinder or Sphere
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
 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
 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
1. Move in some direction
2. Look at what you find there
3. Record what you find in your notebook
4. Analyze findings in terms of where you want to be
5. Use results of analysis to choose next direction
6. Back to 1 and continue exploring
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

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
 Properties of Dry Strand of
Spaghetti and Mini-Marshmellow
Tension Force
Marshmallows do not hold
up to tension
Spaghetti cannot hold much
tension; therefore, it breaks
very easily
Compression Force
Marshmallows handle
compression
Spaghetti cannot hold much
compression; therefore, its
breaks very easily
 Problem Solving
Tension Force Compression Force
Strategy Fresh Strategy Double up the
marshmallows are more spaghetti strands (two
sticky and grip spaghetti strands side by side) for
Strategy Push extra strength, especially
spaghetti deep into at the foundation
marshmallow
Strategy Use
marshmallows side
by side for extra
strength and use small
pieces of spaghetti to
pin marshmallows
 Properties of String
Tension Force Compression Force
String handles tension String does not handle compression
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
 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
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.
 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
 Types Of Waves
Longitudinal Wave Traverse Wave
 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 Particles of the medium move

in a direction parallel to in a direction perpendicular to
the wave motion direction the wave motion direction
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)
Assembly:
Mount 2 wood screws on the under side each side
of the plywood with sticking up
Mount wood screws on the top edge of each side
of the frame with 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
 Measuring Earthquakes
Richter Scale (Math Scale x 10)
Modified Saffir - Simpson Scale
(Math Scale x 30 increase in Energy)
 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
Measuring Hurricanes
Saffir - Simpson Scale
Measuring Tornadoes
Enhanced Fujita Scale