Forces, Loads, Materials, Shapes
Student Activity Lesson Plan
Subject/Strand/Topic:
Grade(s) / Course(s):
Science – Structural Strength and Stability
7
Ontario Expectations:
7s85, 7s86, 7s87, 7s90, 7s102
Key Concepts: forces (compression, tension, bending, shear, torsion), loads (weight, soil, temp., wind, vibration,
earthquake), materials (wood, plastic, aluminum, brick, concrete, iron, steel), shapes(rectangles, arches, triangles)
Link: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/lab/forces.html
Required Materials: Pre-Assessment/Answer Key, Student Activity Handout, Student Activity Answer Key, PostAssessment/Answer Key
Before Starting: This activity works best during a double-period.
Introduction (10 min including pre-assessment)
1. Ask students the following questions:
Q: Predict what would happen if a building was built on soft soil. (It would sink into the soil and become unstable)
Q: Predict what would happen if wood was used to build a large building in an area where it continually rained and
snowed? (the wood would rot and weaken)
2. Introduce the learning object (this online activity will investigate factors involved in building structures)
3. Distribute the pre-assessment quiz and allow 5 min to complete; collect
4. Ensure students are in front of their computers prior to moving on
Explanation of Activity Sheet (5 min)
1. Students should be placed in partners for this activity.
2. Distribute Activity sheet to each student
3. Provide direction on the organization and structure of the Activity sheet
as needed
4. Inform students they will only by using the four headings at the top of
the learning object and down the side of the screen and should not be
using any other links on the page
Use of Learning Object with Activity Sheet (45 minutes)
1. Teacher should circulate throughout the activity and ensure students are on task
2. Provide students with the following verbal time cues throughout the activity:
• Forces section – 10 min
• Loads section – 15 min
• Materials section – 10 min
• Shapes section – 10 min
Consolidation Questions and Post-Assessment (10 minutes)
Q: What are some important considerations when deciding what material to use for a building? (the environment it
will be in, what it will be used for, how much material is needed (cost), etc.)
Q: What kind of external factors must be considered in building structures? (Soil, temperature, natural events in the
area, temperatures, safety, etc.)
Q: Why is it important to plan the structure down to smallest details and make/test models prior to building? (you
can only build once as repairs could be costly and involve loss of human life – by testing, you know how strong you
need to make things to withstand the elements, you also know if your structure will be stable and strong)
1. Distribute post-assessment quiz and allow 5 min to complete; collect
2. Activity sheet can be taken up as a class or collected and marked
© 2007 University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) ~ Permission to Copy
Teacher-Created Resources: Student Activity Lesson Plan
Page 1 of 1
Forces, Loads, Materials, Shapes
Student Activity Pre-Assessment
Birthday: __________________
Name: ____________________________
Complete the following questions below. Each correct response is worth 1 mark.
6
1. Torsion is an action that twists a material.
True OR False
2. Cables in a suspension bridge are held by compression.
True OR False
3. What is thermal load?
4. What is the difference between the dead load and the live load in a structure?
5. What building material is considered the strongest?
6. Draw the following structures in the table below in order of increasing strength (able to hold weight
without collapsing).
Greatest amount of strength
Moderate amount of strength
Least amount of strength
© 2007 University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) ~ Permission to Copy
Teacher-Created Resources: Student Activity Pre-Assessment
Forces, Loads, Materials, Shapes
Student Activity Pre-Assessment
Name: Answer
Key
Complete the following questions below. Each correct response is worth 1 mark.
6
1. Torsion is an action that twists a material.
True OR False
2. Cables in a suspension bridge are held by compression.
True OR False
3. What is thermal load?
The expanding or shrinking of a structure due to changes in temperature.
4. What is the difference between the dead load and the live load in a structure?
The dead load is the weight of the materials used to build the building, the live load is the weight of the people,
furniture, books, materials, etc. that are inside a building.
5. What building material is considered the strongest?
Steel
6. Draw the following structures in the table below in order of increasing strength (able to hold weight
without collapsing).
Greatest amount of strength
Moderate amount of strength
Least amount of strength
© 2007 University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) ~ Permission to Copy
Teacher-Created Resources: Student Activity Pre-Assessment
Forces, Loads, Materials, Shapes
Student Activity Handout
Name: ___________________________
Date: ____________________________
LINK: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/lab/forces.html
42
FORCES [12 marks]
Use the FORCES section to complete the table below by filling in the empty boxes.
Important: For the last column (the examples) look at the examples in each section by choosing
Then think of an example of the force in everyday life and write it down.
Action
Name of Force
Squeezing
Compression
What does the force do?
What does it look like?
(Draw the force in action!)
Squeezes material
together.
Stretches material apart.
Stretching
Bending
When a straight material
becomes curved, one side
squeezes together and the
other side stretches apart.
Sliding
Sliding two materials past
one another in opposite
direction.
Twisting
© 2007 University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) ~ Permission to Copy
Teacher-Created Resources: Student Activity Handout
Page 1 of 3
Example of the
force in action!
Forces, Loads, Materials, Shapes
Student Activity Handout
Name: ___________________________
Date: ____________________________
LOADS [15 marks]
1. What are loads? [1 mark]
2. What is the dead load? Give an example of what a dead load would include. [2 marks]
3. What is the live load? Give an example of what a live load would include. [2 marks]
4. A library is built from concrete walls and will hold a collection of children’s books. Identify the dead
load and live load in this example. [2 marks]
5. Complete the table below. [8 marks]
What is the load
called?
Force acting on the
structure
Description of the load
Deep piles (heavy concrete
pillars) to support the structure
Settlement load
Temperature
Earthquake load
Wind load
Preventing the load from
occurring
Shrinking or expanding due
to changes in temperature
Push and pull in a horizontal
direction
Roller joints (inserts into
building material to allow it to
expand or contract)
Shear walls (walls of concrete
reinforced with steel beams)
Wind
Vibration
A load that changes over
time
© 2007 University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) ~ Permission to Copy
Teacher-Created Resources: Student Activity Handout
Page 2 of 3
Forces, Loads, Materials, Shapes
Student Activity Handout
Name: ___________________________
Date: ____________________________
MATERIALS [9 marks]
1. Why is it important to take into account the direction of the fibers when building with wood? [1 mark]
2. Why are circus tents made from plastic? [2 marks]
3. Aluminum is a building material that when combined with magnesium and copper (both metals) is
almost as strong as steel. What do we call materials that are a combination of metals? [1 mark]
4. Why is brick not used in building modern structures (excluding houses)? [1 mark]
5. What is the difference between concrete and reinforced concrete? [1 mark]
6. Which force is significantly improved by using reinforced concrete versus concrete? [1 mark]
7. Cast iron can be molded to any shape but is not used as a modern day building material, why?
[1 mark]
8. Which material is stronger than any other in both compression and tension? [1 mark]
SHAPES [6 marks]
1. Compare the structural strength of the three shapes by using the slider on the right side to add and
remove weight. Draw the shapes below in the order of greatest structural strength to least structural
strength. [3 marks] Note: Move to slider to the very bottom to return to the introductory screen
Greatest amount of strength
Moderate amount of strength
Least amount of strength
2. Select each of the shapes to learn more about them. Complete the table below. [3 marks]
Add a brace for support
Add buttresses for support
Circle the strongest point
© 2007 University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) ~ Permission to Copy
Teacher-Created Resources: Student Activity Handout
Page 3 of 3
Forces, Loads, Materials, Shapes
Student Activity Handout Answer Key
Name: ___________________________
Date: ____________________________
LINK: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/lab/forces.html
42
FORCES [12 marks]
Use the FORCES section to complete the table below by filling in the empty boxes.
Important: For the last column (the examples) look at the examples in each section by choosing
Then think of an example of the force in everyday life and write it down.
Action
Squeezing
Stretching
Bending
Sliding
Name of Force
Compression
What does the force do?
What does it look like?
(Draw the force in action!)
Squeezes material
together.
Columns in a
skyscraper are
under
compression.
Stretches material apart.
Cables in a
suspension bridge
are in tension.
Tension
Bending
Shear
When a straight material
becomes curved, one side
squeezes together and the
other side stretches apart.
Sliding two materials past
one another in opposite
direction.
Twisting a material.
Twisting
Example of the
force in action!
Torsion
Bending a metal
bar.
Roadway sliding in
opposite directions
in the event of an
earthquake.
An unstable
suspension bridge
may twist during
violent winds.
NOTE FOR TEACHER: The answers in the last column will vary; the answers provided are those from the
learning object which students are NOT to use in their answers.
© 2007 University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) ~ Permission to Copy
Teacher-Created Resources: Student Activity Handout Answer Key
Page 1 of 3
Forces, Loads, Materials, Shapes
Student Activity Handout Answer Key
Name: ___________________________
Date: ____________________________
LOADS [15 marks]
1. What are loads? [1 mark]
Loads are forces that act on structures
2. What is the dead load? Give an example of what a dead load would include. [2 marks]
The weight of the structure. Building materials such as concrete, nuts, bolts, beams are examples of dead
load.
3. What is the live load? Give an example of what a live load would include. [2 marks]
The weight of objects on the structure. People, furniture, materials are examples of live load.
4. A library is built from concrete walls and will hold a collection of children’s books. Identify the dead
load and live load in this example. [2 marks]
The dead load is the concrete walls of the library, the live load is the children’s books.
5. Complete the table below. [8 marks]
What is the load
called?
Force acting on the
structure
Description of the load
Soil beneath structure settles
unevenly
Settlement load
Soft Soil
Shrinking or expanding due
to changes in temperature
Thermal load
Temperature
Push and pull in a horizontal
direction
Earthquake load
Earthquake
Preventing the load from
occurring
Deep piles (heavy concrete
pillars) to support the structure
Roller joints (inserts into
building material to allow it to
expand or contract)
Shear walls (walls of concrete
reinforced with steel beams)
Push in a horizontal direction
Wind load
Diagonal braces used to
support and stabilize
Wind
A load that changes over
time
Dynamic load
Vibration
Thick beams are used in
structures that experience
dynamic loads.
© 2007 University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) ~ Permission to Copy
Teacher-Created Resources: Student Activity Handout Answer Key
Page 2 of 3
Forces, Loads, Materials, Shapes
Student Activity Handout Answer Key
Name: ___________________________
Date: ____________________________
MATERIALS [9 marks]
1. Why is it important to take into account the direction of the fibers when building with wood? [1 mark]
The direction of the fibers is important because it is 3x easier to break wood if it is stretched across the
direction of the fibers rather than in the direction of the fibers.
2. Why are circus tents made from plastic? [2 marks]
Circus tents are made from plastic because the tents are pulled in many directions and cannot snap – the
long chains of molecules that make up plastic can be pulled in many directions without snapping.
3. Aluminum is a building material that when combined with magnesium and copper (both metals) is
almost as strong as steel. What do we call materials that are a combination of metals? [1 mark]
Alloy
4. Why is brick not used in building modern structures (excluding houses)? [1 mark]
Brick is very heavy and breaks easily (weak in tension)
5. What is the difference between concrete and reinforced concrete? [1 mark]
Reinforced concrete has steel beams through it whereas concrete does not.
6. Which force is significantly improved by using reinforced concrete versus concrete? [1 mark]
Tension
7. Cast iron can be molded to any shape but is not used as a modern day building material, why?
[1 mark]
Cast iron is brittle and snaps without warning.
8. Which material is stronger than any other in both compression and tension? [1 mark]
Steel
SHAPES [6 marks]
1. Compare the structural strength of the three shapes by using the slider on the right side to add and
remove weight. Draw the shapes below in the order of greatest structural strength to least structural
strength. [3 marks] Note: Move to slider to the very bottom to return to the introductory screen
Greatest amount of strength
Moderate amount of strength
Least amount of strength
2. Select each of the shapes to learn more about them. Complete the table below. [3 marks]
Add a brace for support
Add buttresses for support
Circle the strongest point
© 2007 University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) ~ Permission to Copy
Teacher-Created Resources: Student Activity Handout Answer Key
Page 3 of 3
Forces, Loads, Materials, Shapes
Student Activity Post-Assessment
Birthday: __________________
Name: ____________________________
Complete the following questions below. Each correct response is worth 1 mark.
6
1. Torsion is an action that twists a material.
True OR False
2. Cables in a suspension bridge are held by compression.
True OR False
3. What is thermal load?
4. What is the difference between the dead load and the live load in a structure?
5. What building material is considered the strongest?
6. Draw the following structures in the table below in order of increasing strength (able to hold weight
without collapsing).
Greatest amount of strength
Moderate amount of strength
Least amount of strength
© 2007 University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) ~ Permission to Copy
Teacher-Created Resources: Student Activity Post-Assessment
Forces, Loads, Materials, Shapes
Student Activity Post-Assessment
Name: Answer
Key
Complete the following questions below. Each correct response is worth 1 mark.
6
1. Torsion is an action that twists a material.
True OR False
2. Cables in a suspension bridge are held by compression.
True OR False
3. What is thermal load?
The expanding or shrinking of a structure due to changes in temperature.
4. What is the difference between the dead load and the live load in a structure?
The dead load is the weight of the materials used to build the building, the live load is the weight of the people,
furniture, books, materials, etc. that are inside a building.
5. What building material is considered the strongest?
Steel
6. Draw the following structures in the table below in order of increasing strength (able to hold weight
without collapsing).
Greatest amount of strength
Moderate amount of strength
Least amount of strength
© 2007 University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) ~ Permission to Copy
Teacher-Created Resources: Student Activity Post-Assessment