Blog 2: Newspaper Structure Challenge

Ready, set, go!!!

           On Wednesday, Mr. Chung gave us an exciting task to complete. The challenge was to construct the tallest structure with 5 sheets of newspaper and a limited amount of tape.


          Our group discussed what shape the base should be to ensure that the structure wouldn't topple to one side as well as how the following layers should be built up. We settled on creating a large triangular base, but we eventually ended up with a rectangular base because it was too hard. The following layers got smaller and smaller until it became a thin, rolled up sheet. At the very top of the structure, we taped a small piece of paper to increase the height. Our structure was unstable so we had to press in the newspaper at some points to alter the balance. About 20 minutes after, Mr. Chung told us to bring the structures to the front of the room to measure the heights. In the end, our group won by a centimetre!!!

  
          One of the best ways to create a strong, tall structure would be to have a triangular or rectangular pyramid as the base. Then, you would roll of the rest of the newspaper into cylinders and tape them vertically, one on top of another. Like our group, you could cut thin strips of paper in the beginning and add it on to the structure in the end.