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Let’s Talk Science and the Royal Society of Canada have partnered to provide Globe and Mail readers with relevant coverage about issues that affect us all – from education to the impact of leading-edge scientific discoveries. Let’s Talk Science offers a number of fun activities to get youth engaged in STEM. These hands-on activities encourage active learning and discovery using materials commonly found at home.
Design and build a structure that protects toy people from the wind.
What You Need
● 2 small toy people, about 5 cm or 2″ tall (e.g., LEGO® or Playmobil® people)
● A piece of string 50 cm or about 18″ long
● 6 popsicle sticks or craft sticks
● Half a piece of letter-size paper 8.5″ by 5.5″ or 27.9 cm x 10.8 cm
● 1 piece of sticky tack or blu tack, about the size of your fingernail
● 1 piece of cardstock
● Scissors
● 1 electric fan
What to Do
*Safety first! Be careful using electric fans. Keep your fingers away from the blades.
- Two toy people have been shipwrecked on a tropical island. Your challenge is to design and build a shelter for them. It needs to stand up to the wind from an electric fan.
- You may only use the tools and materials provided.
- Put the piece of cardstock on a table. It will be your base. You must attach your structure to the cardstock using the stick tack. You can’t use the stick tack for anything else.
- You must set up your completed structure 60 cm or about 2′ away from the electric fan. You must point the fan directly at your structure.
- Turn the fan on the lowest setting for 30 seconds. If your structure withstands that force, turn the fan up to the next setting for 30 seconds. Continue until the fan is at the highest setting.
- You are successful if you have created a structure that meets these 2 requirements:
● Your toy people must be able to sit safely under it.
● It must not fall apart when blown by the electric fan at the highest setting for at least 30 seconds.
What’s happening?
Wind happens when air flows from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. Tropical islands can have very strong winds during hurricanes.
Hurricanes form when warm, moist air over the ocean rises quickly. This creates an area of low pressure. Then, air blows into this area of low pressure. This new air gets warmer and rises as well. This cycle can lead to violent winds that can batter islands and coastal areas.
Why does it matter?
Strong winds have a big impact on communities near the ocean. Storms can cause billions of dollars of wind damage to buildings and other structures. Many people get trapped, seriously injured, or even killed as a result. Buildings that withstand high winds can help keep people safe.
It’s important to think about both the shape of a building and the materials used to make it. For example, roofs with four sloping sides and no overhang reduces wind resistance. And builders might choose materials like steel beams and cement siding that can withstand strong wind. Building structures that withstand strong wind protects thousands of peoples’ lives and homes.
Investigate further
● Can your structure withstand wind from all directions? Rotate your structure so that each side is exposed to the fan.
● Can you make a structure that will protect your toy people from water as well?
Discover more free Let’s Talk Science hands-on STEM activities, resources and events online.