- Representation of the project: In this project we were asked to use our creative thinking and innovation skills along with knowledge we learned in the previous topic of Earthquakes. During this project we had to design a tower that could withstand a simulated earthquake, made out of flimsy pasta strands and blue tact. We were provided $60 in money which we could spend on materials with 1 strand of pasta costing $1 and 1 gram of bluetact costing $1. We were given around 2-3 weeks for this project. The tower had to 60cm tall and have a top of 5×5 cm.
- Overview of the engineering process: At first we decided we should muck around with different designs and different ratios of lengths from the base and the tops. We decided on a thick to slim design after 2 prototypes. Our final design were perfectly 60cm tall and there were no problems with the top or base. We built our final design and tested it and it survived with little issue. Next time the things I would improve would be using all of the reasource we had as I don’t think we completely used up all the $60 we had and also could of done more research on different designs and could of tried more variety of them as we kept to the same kind of shape when prototyping. Next time I think I would also like to use different types of materials too see what difference it could make.
- Collaboration: I was in a group of 3 that included Ivan, Aidan and I. We started of the project simply searching “best pasta tower design”. This actually structured the rest of the project for us as we built off the designs we found. I mostly did written work and cut up pasta strands the correct length while Adian and Ivan constructed the tower. Everyone constribuited to the project I believe. I think I used my strengths to my best abilities and I also contrubuited in a postive way.