Using spaghetti and marshmallows, students experiment with different structures to determine which ones are able to handle the greatest amount of load. Their experiments help them to further understand the effects that compression  ... more

Using spaghetti and marshmallows, students experiment with different structures to determine which ones are able to handle the greatest amount of load. Their experiments help them to further understand the effects that compression and tension forces have with respect to the strength of structures. Spaghetti cannot hold much tension or compression; therefore, it breaks very easily. Marshmallows handle compression well, but do not hold up to tension.   less

These slides have served as change agents in greentech circles. By popular demand—we add a few slides to the collection. If you attend enough cleantech events or are pitched by enough startups, you start to see the same few Powe  ... more

These slides have served as change agents in greentech circles. By popular demand—we add a few slides to the collection. If you attend enough cleantech events or are pitched by enough startups, you start to see the same few PowerPoint slides over and over again. Here is a collection of the best or at least the most notorious and historically significant slides in our industry. Slides include: * The Keeling Curve * CEC slide illustrates the "Rosenfeld Effect * The wind power flying spaghetti monster * The solar variability slide * The McKinsey Efficiency Study * NREL's solar cell efficiencies slide * Smart Grid slide * The cubic mile of oil * Khosla Ventures' Green Portfolio *   less

Students will use their creative skills to determine a way to mail raw spaghetti. The students will need to choose a way to safely package their raw spaghetti using only the materials provided. To test the packing designs, the spa  ... more

Students will use their creative skills to determine a way to mail raw spaghetti. The students will need to choose a way to safely package their raw spaghetti using only the materials provided. To test the packing designs, the spaghetti will be mailed through the postal system and evaluated after delivery.   less

"CHARTS showing the warming of the Earth normally look like spaghetti thrown across the page. This chart, adapted from a compendious “State of the climate” report published by America's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra  ... more

"CHARTS showing the warming of the Earth normally look like spaghetti thrown across the page. This chart, adapted from a compendious “State of the climate” report published by America's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this week, simplifies things by offering only decadal averages, and making clear the uncertainties by showing the 95% confidence ranges on those averages."   less

Rules for a student competition using spaghetti to construct a bridge. Each group is to build a bridge made from spaghetti and glue/epoxy. The object is to construct a bridge that will carry the heaviest load while still meeting s  ... more

Rules for a student competition using spaghetti to construct a bridge. Each group is to build a bridge made from spaghetti and glue/epoxy. The object is to construct a bridge that will carry the heaviest load while still meeting specifications. Bridges will be loaded until they fail.   less

To introduce the two types of stress that materials undergo — compression and tension — students examine compressive and tensile forces and learn about bridges and skyscrapers. They construct their own building structure using mar  ... more

To introduce the two types of stress that materials undergo — compression and tension — students examine compressive and tensile forces and learn about bridges and skyscrapers. They construct their own building structure using marshmallows and spaghetti to see which structure can hold the most weight. In an associated literacy activity, students explore the psychological concepts of stress and stress management, and complete a writing activity.   less

Through ten lessons and numerous activities, students explore the natural universal rules engineers and physicists use to understand how things move and stay still. Together, these rules are called “mechanics.” The study of mechan  ... more

Through ten lessons and numerous activities, students explore the natural universal rules engineers and physicists use to understand how things move and stay still. Together, these rules are called “mechanics.” The study of mechanics is a way to improve our understanding of everyday movements, such as how gravity pulls things together, how objects balance, spin and twirl, and how things fly and fall. While studying Newton's three laws of motion, students gain hands-on experience with the concepts of forces, changes in motion, and action and reaction. See the Unit Overview section for a list of topics by lesson. Through hands-on activities, students model the behavior of parachutes and helicopters, closely examine falling objects, build and use a spring scale, examine collisions between skateboards, make model rockets with balloons and string, collect data from cotton ball catapults, study friction with small hovercrafts made from old CDs and balloons, experiment with center of mass by balancing objects on coat hangers and strings, compete to design clay beams with the best strength-to-weight ratio, experiment with weight distribution on homemade spinning tops, experiment with string length, weight and angle of release of pendulums made from fishing weights and string, and use marshmallows and spaghetti to construct their own building to see which can hold the most weight. For each lesson, associated literacy activities provide additional student engagement; see the Unit Overview section for descriptions.   less

The Futures Channel was founded in 1999 with the goal of using new media technologies to create a channel between the scientists, engineers, explorers and visionaries who are shaping the future, and today’s learners who will one  ... more

The Futures Channel was founded in 1999 with the goal of using new media technologies to create a channel between the scientists, engineers, explorers and visionaries who are shaping the future, and today’s learners who will one day succeed them. The website has high quality videos organized around the following categories: advanced concepts, animals, art, music, commerce, design, environment, innovation, technology, science, space, mathematics. There is a search function and associated lesson plans, mostly aimed at middle and high school. The Mission of The Futures Channel: To produce and distribute high quality multimedia content which educators in any setting can use to enliven curriculum, engage students and otherwise enhance the learning experience. To connect mathematics, science, technology and engineering to the real world of careers and achievement, so that students can envision a context and purpose for what they are learning allowing them to envision their own successful futures. To provide a channel through which professionals from the sciences, engineering and technology sectors can reach their future workforce prospects and interest them in their fields.   less

Civil engineers design and construct structures such as buildings, dams, and bridges. We can explore the field of engineering by making a bridge using spaghetti. This bridge is then tested based on the weight it can carry without  ... more

Civil engineers design and construct structures such as buildings, dams, and bridges. We can explore the field of engineering by making a bridge using spaghetti. This bridge is then tested based on the weight it can carry without breaking.   less

Purdue News article, 2000. "The Purdue student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers won the 18th annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest today (Saturday, 2/12) by preserving the most significant inventions of the 20th century  ... more

Purdue News article, 2000. "The Purdue student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers won the 18th annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest today (Saturday, 2/12) by preserving the most significant inventions of the 20th century in a Rubbermaid Spaghetti Keeper. Download Photo Here Photo caption below "The contest rules said the time capsule had to be transparent so the judges could see what we chose to put inside," explained team spokeswoman Leigh Ann Heider, a senior from Anderson, Ind. "The spaghetti keeper was just the right size." The group's machine, named "Traveling Through Time," was the only one of the four contraptions entered in the contest to complete this year's task without human intervention. Contestants were asked to load a minimum of seven items representing 20th century inventions into a time capsule and seal it, using at least 20 steps and within a time limit. The winning machine placed 10 items into the capsule in 37 steps to win the first-place trophy and a full-sized refrigerator from the contest's corporate sponsor, General Electric. The contest honors the late cartoonist Rube Goldberg, who specialized in drawing whimsical, complicated machines to perform very simple tasks."   less