Rocket sets the ball on the box tower.
Slowly, the tower leans sideways. Down comes the ball!
"It held for four seconds," Nova says.
Rocket rubs his chin. "We can improve it."
Raven points. "What do you notice? Every side is a square."
| Version | Shape of sides | Ball height (inches) | Held 10 seconds? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket version 1 | Squares | 7 | No |
The ball pushed down on the frame.
The square sides leaned over, just like Raven's square.
The tower was tall enough. It was not stiff enough.
A load is the weight a build holds.
The ball is the load in this challenge.
The load pushes down on the frame.
A weak shape bends under the push.
| Idea | True or false? |
|---|---|
| Version 1 was tall enough. | ? |
| Version 1 was stiff enough. | ? |
| A heavier ball would keep the test fair. | ? |
| Triangles can make the frame stiffer. | ? |
A lean is a clue, and you followed it!
Tomorrow, we test version 2.