This post originally appeared on FreeTech4Teachers.com. It has actually been utilized without permission if you see it elsewhere. Websites that steal my (Richard Byrnes) work include CloudComputin and WayBetterSite. Featured image captured by Richard Byrne.

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

Last fall a YouTube channel titled Lifes Biggest Questions took on the concern of “how high can a LEGO tower get?” The video describes the math that was used by scientists at The Open University to figure how high a LEGO tower would get before the blocks collapsed under their own weight. Naturally, the mathematical answer presumes that the tower would not fall over prior to reaching its optimal height. You then have to think about the overall stability of the structure rather of simply weight-bearing ability of the structure. Enjoy the video to find out more, its quite enjoyable..

Applications for Education.
Before revealing students the video or the post discussed above, I d have them make guesses as to the response then compose out lists of the variables that they can think of that would influence how high the tower might get. After they watch the video I d have a little class contest to see who can develop the tallest tower with the LEGOs readily available in my class.

The comic and the short article triggered me to turn to YouTube for videos about building giant LEGO towers. The video describes the math that was used by scientists at The Open University to figure how high a LEGO tower would get before the blocks collapsed under their own weight. Before revealing students the video or the post pointed out above, I d have them make guesses as to the response then write out lists of the variables that they can think of that would affect how tall the tower could get. After they watch the video I d have a little class contest to see who can build the highest tower with the LEGOs offered in my classroom.