Structure WebQuest - Design Engineer Questions
[Introduction]
[Task] [Process] [Resources]
[Evaluation] [Conclusion]
 1. Animals and insects
build structures for many reasons. A wonderful example of good
engineering is that done by a honeybee. Draw an illustration of their
structures and discuss the geometry that you see in its design. Why is
this a good example worth investigating? What properties does it have
that influence its strength?
2. Find other objects in nature to investigate, such as spider webs, sea
shells, etc. What did you find out
about the strength of the design(s)?
 3.
When items are packed and/or shipped, they are often sent in cardboard
boxes. What are the characteristics of corrugated cardboard that make it
stronger than paperboard (like that in cereal boxes)? Is this corrugated
cardboard stronger in some situations than in others? How do tension and
compression affect it?
4. Your structure structure may be subject to potentially damaging
shocks, such as during the placement of weights on your structure. What
types of design might help your structure withstand these shocks? Try this site....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cushioning
5. What 3-dimensional shapes did you explore and which ones seemed to be
the strongest under tension? under compression?
6. What other questions do you want to find answers to while working on
this project?
7. After working with the journalist in your group, get a copy of the
interview questions and the name of one person to interview. You will
need to complete an interview worksheet for the interview
that you do and attach it to your research notes and turn it in with your report.
Internet Sites to visit to find these answers
Back to the WebQuest
This project was created by Nancy
Powell for Geometry Classes at Bloomington High School, Bloomington,
IL. I welcome your comments and questions.
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