Purpose:

To demonstrate ways of improving the strength of wood.

Materials:

• 3 - 56 cm. wooden sticks

• 1 - 56 cm. wooden stick, glued

• 1 - 56 cm. wooden stick, nailed or stapled

• 1 - 56 cm wooden I-beam

• 2 books

Procedure:

-place one of the single wooden strips as a bridge between two books

-push down on the middle of the wooden strip, note the flexibility

-add another strip and repeat the procedure noting the change in flexibility

-add the 3rd strip and repeat......What is happening to the flexibility of the wood as you add pieces?

-how can we “engineer” the wood to make it stronger?

-Do you think nailed wood or glued wood would be stronger?

-repeat the experiment using the nailed and glued wood.

-Can you think of another way to strengthen the wood?

-discuss the construction of the I-beam.....it requires only two of the strips to make one I-beam.

-repeat the experiment using the I-beam....What do you notice?

Questions:

1) How can engineered wood help us?

- Engineering can add to the strength.

- We use less wood to produce a stronger product as shown by the I-beam.

2) Can you think of instances where engineered wood has been used?

 

Lab 4, Pg. 1