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Boomilever: Strongest Structure for Its Mass

Build a lightweight structure that sticks out from a wall like a diving board and holds a hanging load.

Grade 7BuildScience OlympiadEngineeringStructuresEngineeringPhysicsAdvanced1.5 to 2.5 hr8 materialsAdult supervision required

What you'll learn

  • Identify which parts of the boom are in tension and compression
  • Calculate efficiency as load divided by structure mass
  • Improve a design after studying where it failed

Objective

Build a boom that sticks out horizontally, test how much load it supports at the end, and maximize its efficiency.

STEM concepts

CantileverTension and compressionBendingEfficiency
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Materials and safety
Step-by-step instructions
Prediction, test sheet and results
Why does it work, challenge and project report

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