Newspaper Structure Challenge

The physics of tall structures 

• There are many forces acting upon tall structures: gravity, wind, etc.
• Many factors influence the stability of tall structures....

What makes a tall structure stable?

• The materials. The tall structure will be more stable if the materials it is made out of are strong.
• The shape. The structure will tend to be more stable if the base is wider than the top of the structure. The stability can also be improved by incorporating strong shapes like triangles into the design of the structure.
• The weight distribution. The structure will be more stable if the bottom of the structure is heavier than the top. If the top is too heavy, the structure could tip over.
• The structure's center of gravity. The structure's center of gravity should be as low as possible, right above center of its base in order to achieve maximum stability.

What is the center of gravity?

• It is the "imaginary point in a body of matter where, for convenience in certain calculations, the total weight of the body may be thought to be concentrated." (Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/242556/centre-of-gravity)
• Could also be thought of as the "balancing point" of the structure.

Our group's finished newspaper structure.