Brown,+M.



__//**Experiment 1:**//__ Problem Statement: How strong is a toothpick structure? Hypothesis: If I put crazy glue on one structure and marshmallows on another, then I think the toothpick structure with crazy glue will be able to hold 55 pounds or more. Independent Variable:Weight on toothpicks Dependent Variable: How much weight is put on before toothpicks break Control Variables: 1) Amount of toothpicks used 2) Structure of toothpicks 3) Amount of weight put on at a time 4) Unit of weights 5) Type of toothpicks used Problem Statement: How strong is a toothpick structure? Hypothesis: If I change structure A of the toothpicks, then it will hold wieght longer than structure B Idependent Variable: Structure of toothpicks Dependent Variable: How long the toothpick structure can hold the weights Control Variables: 1) Amount of toothpicks used 2) Unit of time used to measure 3) Amount of weight put on at a time 4) Amount of glue used on each structure 5) Type of toothpicks used __//**Experiment 3:**//__ Problem Statement: How strong is a toothpick structure? Hypothesis: If I put the wieghts on 5 at a time, then structure A will collapse quicker than structure B Independent Variable: Weight put on the toothpick at a time Dependent Variable: How fast the structure collapsed Control Variables: 1) Amount of toothpicks used 2) Structure of toothpicks 3) Type of wieght used 4) Amount of glue used on each structure 5) Type of toothpicks used
 * __//Experiment 2://__**

How Strong is A Toothpick Structure?

Maya Brown

Period 4

Mr. Hankins Science

The strength of a toothpick depends on what it is made of. For example, most toothpicks are made of a type of wood called birch, which is one of the strongest woods. There are various types of toothpicks. Like wood, plastic, bamboo, metal, or bone toothpicks. Metal is a very strong material, so it would not be accurate if you use different toothpicks for each trial. Although metal and bamboo have almost the same strength, the results would still not be accurate because they are two completely different substances

The toothpick’s diameter is also important. Most toothpicks are 1/16 of an inch, so it would have a cross section of 0.003 square inches. This toothpick should be able to withstand or support from 20 pounds up to 53 pounds! But as most toothpicks are 1/16 of an inch, there are some that are thicker than that. There are also some that are thinner than 1/16 of an inch, which is extremely thin. If the diameter changes, then the cross section will change, which means how much weight it can support will change.

Now let’s talk about building construction. This is very, extremely, important. You can have a very complex design but once you place weight on it, the whole thing will or can collapse. The building design can be complex, but at the same time it has to be sturdy, so the structure will not collapse and is sturdy enough for the weight to depend upon it. The building construction of a toothpick structure also affects how much weight it can withstand. Although you might think only the design matters, it is also how you put it together and what you use to put it together. You can use school glue but that won’t really help it support that much weight.

The structure of the toothpick also matters. If the toothpick is cut across the grain, the toothpick tends to be weaker than those that are not. Some toothpicks are square, some are round, and some are flat. This means the toothpicks vary in strength. Most square toothpicks tend to be stronger than others, but if it is cut across the grain it will most likely be as weak as other toothpicks.

There are a couple of forces that can affect a toothpick. There is tension, torsion, shear and compression. Tension is the force of pulling. For example, if you were to take a toothpick and pull it until it broke, that would take a lot of force, and that force is tension. Torsion is the force of twisting. Twisting a toothpick would be a lot. Twisting a toothpick would be a lot easier than pulling it and it would not take as much force. Shear is different forces pushing on the same force. It’s just like pushing both ends of a straw towards the middle until it where to bend. Compression is the forces that push down on a beam. That is like taking a straw and pressing the middle until it finally bends.

A plastic toothpick can have elasticity, tenacity, durability, variety in shape, and variability in thickness. The elasticity can be tested by seeing how much you can bend it before it broke. The tenacity is how long it can hold for. Durability is how strong it is. The variety in shape and thickness are probably the most important because the varieties also make toothpicks vary in strength.

My science project will either be:
9.) Can eggs withstand a greater force from one direction than from others?, 29.)Insulation- best materials, thickness, 15.)How strong is a toothpick?,or 11.)How strong are plastic wraps?

====. **Less****on 1** teaches you first about **Observing,** which is important. It's important because you observe to gather information. You can observe by using your senses. Observing is also the most important part of science processes. There are different types of observation which can make it easier to gather the information. There is also **Inferring** which means you make an inference or using what you know to make an assumption. Like Dr.Earle who lived underwater for a couple of weeks in order to __interpret__ some things about ocean life. You **__CAN NOT__** infer by just looking at the surface of water for 5 minutes. The lesson also tells you about **Predicting**, which is making a guess based on what has already happened. It is very similar to an Inference, but a prediction is what you think will happen while a inference is what you assume is happening. You can predict by watching something or **observe** it then make you guess. The lesson includes **Classifying,** which is putting different objects in groups based on their similarities. You can classify plants, animals, fishes, birds, D.N.A., and many other things. Dr.Earle collected plant samples and **classified** them. And do not forget **Making Models.** When you make models, you create a chart of what you are making. You can also make models using clay, metal, etc. and it doesn't matter what you make your models of, it is still a model. Models can help people who cant study the objects directly.==== This is my tried to keep it short lesson 1 summary. I had it written but I figured I should have typed it.

====. I'm actually pretty crazy sometimes but I LOVE to sing and dance (especially in the shower-but not dancing). My favorite subjects are science and art. My favorite topic in science is experiments. I really don't like learning about rocks (not interesting ones but the ones you find on the street because that's boooooorrrriingggg!!!) I would really like to learn about........... anything but plain boring rocks.==== And oh yeah, my user name is Teddy_Bear_Brown because i love teddy bears. oh yeah and also... I LOVE FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!