Hi, I'm Talia from
We're at an engineering event in the WGBH studios
in the Boston Public Library.
We have to build a structure out of newspaper
that can hold as many books as possible.
We can only use tape,
one piece of cardboard,
and ten sheets of newspaper.
Our newspaper structures have to be at least eight inches tall.
We'll work in teams, and we'll have
45 minutes to design and build.
And then we'll see whose newspaper structure
can hold the most books without collapsing.
All right, let's get to work!
Our plan is basically to make a box that's eight inches high
and that has a bunch of supports in it.
These are the pillars, these are the supports
that connect the pillars, and then we're going to put
the book on top of the box.
How many newspapers
do you think it's going to take
to make one of the pillars that's supporting the books?
- Maybe around two sheets of newspaper, maybe?
We're planning out where to put
our paper so we can make the strongest structure we can.
- Instead of the books balancing
by themselves, we're going to have our design hanging.
It's kind of like a hanging basket.
And the books will be here, pushing down.
- We did our first test, but it was a bit wobbly.
The legs wouldn't hold up that well.
We definitely need to build more supports like...
We're going to have it like a triangle shape on each side.
Triangles are stronger because it's harder for them
to lose their shape.
That should help keep these legs from sliding.
- You should roll it up and tape it and then attach it.
TALIA: We're going to have enough supports to support
one thing on the top, like that.
Because it's like twisting, this way...
because this is like dangling out...
- So we do more for support!
TALIA: Yeah, we need a square around the bottom.
- We're putting a column in the middle
to help strengthen the middle.
- 30 seconds left!
- (laugh): Ah, 30 seconds!
Five, four, three, two...
...one!
TALIA: All right, our 45 minutes are up.
And now it's time to test.
If we could do this again, I'd try to use a stronger beam
on the side because it's kind of flimsy-- it got ripped.
- This is where it fell.
It sort of twisted right here and just fell over.
But I'm happy with it overall.
(applause)
- Seven, eight...
...ten...
- Now we need more books.
TALIA: Ooh, careful when you pass them.
Ahh...
- Ten books!
(applause)
TALIA: Next time, what I would probably do differently is,
first, kind of make sure the columns are straight--
and because these are kind of pulling into the middle--
and then reinforce it because we kind of did it really quickly.
Our design is a little bit different than everybody else's.
Our design used tension instead of compression.
We're not going to use the table.
We're going to use a stand.
This as many books as our design can hold.
Okay, we're the last group and it's time to test.
That's one book.
- 21...
22...
23...
Get it up there.
Don't let it down.
(surprised shouts)
(applause)
(cheering)
- In the end, our structure was able to hold 23 books.
- I think the reason it was so strong is because the weight
was really well distributed
throughout the four main pillars,
which were also supported by the crossbeams.
Many libraries hold engineering events like this one.
Check out the events calendar at your local public library
to see what activities you can participate in.
(surprised shouts)
(cheers and applause)