Structure - Materials - Forces - Limitations
Create a protective structure around an egg, in order
to prevent it (the egg) from breaking when it falls from the second floor of
a building.
Use ONLY the following materials in the specified quantities:
- 1
egg (NOT boiled or altered in any way)
- 2
boxes of toothpicks
- Hot
glue (some glue guns are available in the studio, buy your own glue
sticks)
- 6
feet of string
- 1
square piece of brown paper 2' x 2' (available in the studio)
Parameters:
The egg must be easily accessible after the fall (do not glue anything
on the egg itself)
A
Few Words About Structure
This
project is designed to introduce the student to the concept of "Structure" and
its vital importance in the creation of any three dimensional work. Disciplines
like Architecture, Engineering and Sculpture have been specifically concerned
with structure since ancient times. The
structure of a piece is usually what allows a piece to exist without
being destroyed by the forces that interact with it.
Gravity is one of
the most
formidable forces of nature that acts constantly upon everything on
this universe and it must be always taken into account when three-dimensional
work is concerned, and this is especially true where large projects
are
constructed.In
addition, the structural properties of the materials as well as the
construction method must be always taken into account when creating any
three dimensional
structure. A structure made of steel behaves differently than the same
structure made of wood.
Different material also behave differently
to different forces. For example, stone and concrete can withstand
a great
deal of compression
but it succumbs easily to tension.Since
structure is so important, it usually has a great deal of influence
over the design. In fact, the structure itself determines the aesthetic
outcome
of the piece. Suspension bridges are a good example of how the structural
design and the selection of materials determine the overall appearance
of the structure.
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