Before the paper floor is added.

We are only using one size of steel block to minimise the total number of steel blocks we need to buy.

If we used lots of different sized blocks we would need quite a lot of them to make sure we could load each model accurately.

That would be very expensive.

When you make a scale model of a building, its SIZE is reduced.

However, the MASS of the building doesn't scale down correctly.

The model is lighter than it should be.

Your model must carry extra weights to correct for this problem.

Rules for Vertical Load

Your model should be strong enough to carry a vertical load (Why ?) and must follow these rules.

Each floor of your model must be able to carry a load of 10 grams for every square centimetre of its area. Your model must be able to carry the required load on all floors at the same time.
At the final event, your team will be provided with steel blocks to test your model to make sure it can carry the total load. Each steel block will be 6.0 x 4.5 x 3.0 cm with a mass of 635 grams. (Why ?)

The numer of blocks you need to place on each floor will be the lowest number needed to provide the load required for that floor (Work it Out).

If the ground floor of your model is directly on the base board, we will not put any blocks on the ground floor, because it does not affect the model when it is being shaken.
You MUST provide fixings on each floor of your model to hold the blocks in place (Show Me).

The blocks will be placed on your model once it has been fixed to the shaking-table for testing. If the blocks fall out of their fixings during the earthquakes, your model will be disqualified.

Make sure that you leave a slight gap between the blocks and your fixings, so that blocks can be taken out and put back in again. The blocks will vary slightly in size.

Download a video of how violently models can shake when they are tested. here (173Kb).

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