In Straws We Trussed

Objective: Students experiment with structural design in the construction of a pin-and-beam truss, directly observing the concepts of tension, compression, buckling and strength of structural elements.

Materials: Each student will need

40 drinking straws (8 inch length, non-bending) Scissors 100 Straight Pins Tabletop Web browser connection to the Truss Applet

Web lesson to be posted

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Developed by Dr. Garrett R. Love for
The Shodor Education Foundation, Inc.
Copyright © 2001
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