• Sample Tower Design  
     
    Technology & Engineering
    Toothpick Tower Activity
     
    View PHOTOS and VIDEOS of solutions to previous years' challenges HERE!
     
    Objective
     
    In The House of Cards, you were required to use flimsy, lightweight materials assembled in a way that would strengthen them to support as much live load as possible.

    In Toothpick Tower, you must design and build a structure using toothpicks to support a 16 lb. live load.

    Task: Using as few of the materials provided as possible, design and build a structure capable of supporting a 16 lb. bowling ball (live load) fifteen (15”) inches above the floor.

    Rules:

    ·      Students will work in groups of two.

    ·      Each group will receive identical sets of materials.

    ·      Materials include standard toothpicks, one (1) 3x5” note card, and a bottle of glue. 

    ·      Sketch three different designs, and choose which one you believe will be most capable of completing the challenge. Build this final design.

    ·      The finished structure must be free-standing and the top must be 15” off the floor, with 1/8” tolerance.

    ·      Glue joints may not exceed ¼” in length. You may not “laminate or coat toothpicks in glue”.

    ·      Each team will be responsible for adding weight to their structure. Once the test begins you may not touch the structure.

    ·      Your structure must support the load for at least 5 seconds, and the load must not shift or move during the test.

    ·      Your structure must use the least number of toothpicks possible.

    ·      Before the final test, teams will explain their structure to the rest of the class.

    ·      Points will be deducted for structures that do not support the load, as well as those that exhibit visible signs of stress under load.

    ·      Analyze the problem and make a list of the problems you had to overcome to turn in along with your tower, or what’s left of it...