Was the leaning Tower of Pisa supposed to be that way? (leaning, I mean)
Nope. :D
Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa leaning, and how was it built?
(plus how much is it tilting?)
After building the first two stories of the building, the architects realized that the ground was unstable, causing the tower to lean.
When the building of the upper floors began, the architects designed them to curve to compensate for the tilt.
After stabilizing the tower recently, the tilt is about 4 degrees.
What is the Centre of Gravity?
The Centre of Gravity is an imaginary point in an object/being around which the force of gravity is acting upon it.
Where is the Centre of Gravity usually located?
(plus examples)
The Centre of Gravity is near the centre of the object/being, where the most mass is located.
i.e. a Human
- Centre of gravity is generally close to the pelvic area
- the Centre of Gravity can change depending on height and girth.
In order for an object/being to be stable, what must occur? ( plus an example )
the support structure must be able to support the centre of gravity.
i.e. a Chair
Chairs’ legs create a support structure that supports the Centre of Gravity, and allows it to stay within the middle of the chair.
What happens if the centre of gravity is not within the base of support?
The object/being will tip or fall over.
How many types of Equilibrium are there?
1..2..3!! Stable Equilibrium, Unstable Equilibrium and Neutral Equilibruim.
What is Stable Equilibrium?
An object/being is considered to be within Stable Equilibrium if when displaced, the object can return to being upright.
i.e. Rocking Chairs
They are able to return to an upright position even if a force displaces them.
What is Unstable Equilibrium?
An object or being is considered in a state of Unstable Equilibrium if it can be displaced by a slight force.
i.e. A Football standing on its own
The small base will create temporary balance, but as soon as force is applied to it, it will topple over.
What is Neutral Equilibruim?
An object or being is considered to be in a state of Neutral Equilibrium if a force can act upon the object or being without the Centre of Gravity being displaced.
i.e. A Soccer Ball
When force is applied to the soccer ball, the centre of gravity will stay in the centre of the ball.
Why or How do people not get hurt when lying on a bed of nails?
They don’t get hurt if the weight is distributed so each nail only supports a small percentage of the total weight.
more nails = less chance of injury
less nails = more chance of injury (aka you’re probably cooked.)
What are the 3 types of Loads?
Static/Dead Loads, Live Loads and Dynamic Loads.
What is another name for a Static Load?
A Dead Load.
What is a Static/Dead Load?
Static Loads are Loads that generally only create pressure on structures, objects or beings through gravity.
Dead Loads typically don’t change since the pressure created by dead loads on a structure is the structure itself.
i.e. an Elevator
Elevator structures themselves rarely change weight over time.
What is a Live load?
Live loads are temporary pressures placed on structures, but they are still influenced by gravity.
i.e. Humans on an elevator
Humans create weight fluctuations that the elevator is designed to withstand.
Who is Elisha Otis, and what did she do?
In the 19th century she created the modern mechanism that prevents elevators from crashing to the floor if there was an issue with the main cable holding up the elevator, which allowed humans to be more trusting of elevators.
What is a Dynamic/Environmental Load?
Dynamic Loads are quickly changing pressures that act on structures.
Environmental Loads include examples like people, animals, vehicles, wind, rain, earthquakes and any or all items/ things that can cause additional pressures that exert extra pressure on a structure beyond what its main purpose is.
i.e. Earthquake-Resistant Buildings
What’s another word for Dynamic Load?
An Environmental Load :)
When cracking an egg, where do we crack it?
The side, due to the fact that the top and bottoms are the strongest parts of the egg, which is also why hens adjust their eggs to be upright before incubation.
What are the 3 main types of Structures?
Solid Structures, Shell Structures and Frame Structures.
What are Solid Structures, and how do they work?
Solid structures are structures that typically have no hollow spaces within them to eliminate structural weaknesses.
its strength comes from the bulk of its weight and structure.
i.e. Dams
A dam’s strength is based on the materials used to create it (usually concrete) and its thickness, which is relative to the pressure exerted on the dam.
What are Shell Structures, and how do they work?
The arching of the Shell STructures is the root of its strength, since the arch will allow it to distribute its weight away from the apex.
Shell Structures are best used when there is a force or pressure greater than what a solid structure alone can withstand.
Shell Structures are mainly used as roofing due to their resistance to the pressure of wind, rain and other types of precipitation. In addition, using a Shell structure creates a domed ceiling, giving the structure more volume.
What are Frame Structures and how do they work?
Frame Structures get their strength from the combination and configuration of parts that help withstand forces.
i.e. a Goal-post
Each goal-post cannot stand on its own, so the rectangular configuration of the bars creates stability and strength. The horizontal bar is the weakest, which is why it often sags in the middle.
What is the maximum number of 2D equilateral triangles you can have around a single point?
You can have 6 2D equilateral triangles around a single vertex at one time; since each corner or a triangle is equal to 60 degrees.
