Physics
Vandebilt Catholic High School
W. Dupre

Fettuccini Physics

Purpose

• To design a structure capable of holding at least one textbook using the materials supplied.

Concepts

• Force
• Design
• Engineering
• Teamwork

Materials

• 20 pieces of dry fettuccini
• one meter of masking tape
• meter stick
• Physics textbooks

Design Requirements

1. The height of the structure shall be at least 5 cm, supporting the book 5 cm above the table. All parts of the book should be supported at least 5 cm above the table.
2. The structure shall use all or part of the 20 pieces of fettuccini and all or part of the 1 m of masking tape. No additional tape or pasta may be used.
3. Tape must be used to secure the support structure. The structure must be one unit that can be picked up and placed on the testing area. Overlapping, non-taped pieces of fettuccini are not allowed. Any or all versions of a "column" of fettuccini pieces circled by tape are not allowed.
4. The structure must have a minimum of three points of support.

Procedure

1. Design and build a support structure according to the design requirements
2. Measure and record the mass of the structure. Measure and record the mass of the Physics textbook. Record in both metric and standard units.
3. Measure and record the height of the structure. Record in both metric and standard units.
4. The students will test the integrity of the pasta structure by placing the Physics on it. To be successful, the structure must hold the item for ten seconds.
5. Continue loading the structure with Physics books until structural failure occurs.

Questions

1. Calculate the weight of the object (or objects) held just prior to structural failure. Record in both metric and standard units.
2. Calculate the efficiency of your structure by comparing the maximum mass held by the structure to the structure's mass.
3. Which part of your structure broke or collapsed first? Why do you feel the structure broke or collapsed at this point? What would you do to make your structure stronger at this point?
4. What is the tallest building on earth and what is its official height. Record your response in both metric and standard units.
5. What is the tallest free standing structure on earth and what is its official height. Record your response in both metric and standard units.
6. Give another logical non-culinary use for fettuccini.