How Tall Can a LEGO Tower Get? – Life’s Biggest Questions

While getting captured up on my reading in Feedly this morning I came throughout a.
new comic from The Oatmeal. The comic is based on a 2012 BBC article entitled.
How Tall Can a LEGO Tower Get? The comic and the post triggered me to turn to YouTube for videos about developing giant LEGO towers. YouTube did not dissatisfy me in my search for videos that describe the math and physics highlighted in the BBCs short article and The Oatmeals comic..

The comic and the article prompted me to turn to YouTube for videos about building huge LEGO towers. The video explains the mathematics that was used by researchers at The Open University to figure how high a LEGO tower would get before the blocks collapsed under their own weight. Before showing students the video or the article mentioned above, I d have them make guesses as to the answer then write out lists of the variables that they can believe of that would affect how high the tower could get. After they see the video I d have a little class contest to see who can build the highest tower with the LEGOs offered in my classroom.

Applications for Education.
The question of “how high can a LEGO tower get?” is an enjoyable prompt for diving into discussions about math and physics. Before revealing trainees the video or the short article pointed out above, I d have them make guesses regarding the answer then draw up lists of the variables that they can consider that would influence how high the tower could get. After they see the video I d have a little class contest to see who can construct the tallest tower with the LEGOs offered in my classroom.

The video discusses the mathematics that was used by scientists at The Open University to figure how tall a LEGO tower would get before the blocks collapsed under their own weight. Of course, the mathematical answer assumes that the tower wouldnt topple over prior to reaching its maximum height.

This post originally appeared on FreeTech4Teachers.com. If you see it elsewhere, it has actually been utilized without approval. Sites that steal my (Richard Byrnes) work consist of CloudComputin and WayBetterSite. Included image recorded by Richard Byrne.

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