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Technology

Grade 7

Structures and communication

Module 22

Reinforcing doors and windows

REINFORCING, by using concrete and lintels over doors and window openings.

Stability

Structures are stabilized to prevent them from collapsing when forces or loads are put on them. To prevent a structure from falling down or collapsing we must try to make the internal forces bigger than the external forces under all conditions. How can you prevent a chair from collapsing when you sit on it? There are rails acting as ties at the bottom holding the legs together and preventing the legs from being pushed outwards.

A flagpole doesn’t need any supports under normal conditions. When the wind blows it can be supported by using guy ropes or ties that are flexible, but stop the poles from bending too far.

Different forces can act on different parts of a structure. Forces that structures have to stand up to are:

  • Compression – when we try to squash a structure ( a squashing force).
  • Tension – when we try to pull a structure apart from either end (a pulling force).

  • Bending – a force which is trying to bend a structure and it is in compression and tension simultaneously.
  • Torsion – a turning or twisting force like when you twist the top off a bottle.
  • Shear – a force created when two opposite forces try to cut a material; like when you use a pair of scissors to cut a piece of paper.

When one force is balanced by another they are said to be in EQUILIBRIUM.

When you build a structure, you do not always have to use solid material like wood or metal. Flexible material, such as wire, can be used for parts of the structure which will only be stretched or in tension. Wire can be used in tension (being stretched), but not in compression (be squashed).

Load from the top of the structure keeps the wire in tension and the structure remains rigid.

When the structure is loaded from the sides the wire is compressed (squashed) and it collapses. It is unstable.

Triangles are very useful when building structures. They can help to make a very strong and rigid structure. To make a rectangle more stable is to put in two more members from corner to corner. Four triangles are formed. This way of making structures more stable is called TRIANGULATION. It is often used when building bridges or cranes. It is not always necessary to put in two members, one would be enough. The second extra member is called the redundant member. When designing structures it is easy to use more members that are really needed. They will only add more weight to the finished structure and make it more expensive.

By making the base size of a structure heavier or wider, you can also make it more stable.

Assignment 1 (groupwork):

[lo 2.1]

Choice 1:

Design and make a horizontal structure using 25 paper straws and a glue gun. Your structure must support a marble as far out from the table as possible. Your structure must not come in contact with the floor or any of the other furniture in the room. It must support the marble for at least 30 seconds.

Choice 2:

Design and make a tower using 25 paper straws and a glue gun. Your tower must support a marble for at least 30 seconds as high as possible.

It is also important to get a structure’s centre of gravity so that it is able to balance. All objects have a point where they are held in balance by the force of gravity. This balancing point is called the centre of gravity, because it is the place where the whole weight of the object seems to centre. The balancing point of a rectangular shape, such as a square or a circle, is in the centre.

How can you find the balancing point of an irregular shape?

Where do you think is the best place for the heavy cargo to be stowed on a ship?

Gravity is the pull that objects have on other objects around them. Because the Earth itself is the largest object in our world, the pull of its gravity is the strongest we can feel. Gravity keeps everything resting on the ground. An object centre of gravity is found when it just balances on the edge of a table before it falls off.

Any object will balance on a pivot when its centre of gravity is low.

How can you change an object’s centre of gravity?

Assignment 2:

To make your own trapeze artist

[lo 2.1]

Requirements :

  • Thick white card
  • a drawing pin
  • a scissors
  • felt tip pens
  • strong glue
  • wire
  • 2 plasticine balls
  • a heavy bottle
  • a glue gun
  • pliers

Method:

  1. Draw the man shape onto some thick white card. Carefully cut out the shape with scissors.

1. Colour in the man to make him more human in the front and back using felt tip pens. Carefully glue a drawing pin to the bottom of the card.

  1. Cut of a length of wire using pliers. Glue it into place with the glue gun.

  1. Glue two plasticine balls to each end of the wire.

4. Carefully stand the balancing man on top of a bottle. He wobbles slightly, but should keep his balance.

JOINING TECHNIQUES

Paper/card Glue, paper clips, a stapler, paper fasteners, washers, string or yarn, tape, pins
Textile Textile glue glues material onto material, PVA glue glues material to paper, card or wood, string , yarn, fasteners (buttons, velcro, zips, hooks and eyes, snap-fasteners, press-studs, strings, laces, ribbon)
Wood Nails, pins, screws, woodglue, joints
Metal Screws, bolts and nuts, soldering, glue, rivets
Plastic Screws, glue

Assessment

Assessment standards (ASs)
We know this when the learner:
structures:
2.1 demonstrates knowledge and understanding of structures.
processing :2.2 demonstrates knowledge and understanding of how materials can be processed to change or improve properties (e.g. strength, fire resistance, waterproofing, taste, volume, texture).

Questions & Answers

what is mutation
Janga Reply
what is a cell
Sifune Reply
how is urine form
Sifune
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mahase Reply
classification of plants, gymnosperm features.
Linsy Reply
what is the features of gymnosperm
Linsy
how many types of solid did we have
Samuel Reply
what is an ionic bond
Samuel
What is Atoms
Daprince Reply
what is fallopian tube
Merolyn
what is bladder
Merolyn
what's bulbourethral gland
Eduek Reply
urine is formed in the nephron of the renal medulla in the kidney. It starts from filtration, then selective reabsorption and finally secretion
onuoha Reply
State the evolution relation and relevance between endoplasmic reticulum and cytoskeleton as it relates to cell.
Jeremiah
what is heart
Konadu Reply
how is urine formed in human
Konadu
how is urine formed in human
Rahma
what is the diference between a cavity and a canal
Pelagie Reply
what is the causative agent of malaria
Diamond
malaria is caused by an insect called mosquito.
Naomi
Malaria is cause by female anopheles mosquito
Isaac
Malaria is caused by plasmodium Female anopheles mosquitoe is d carrier
Olalekan
a canal is more needed in a root but a cavity is a bad effect
Commander
what are pathogens
Don Reply
In biology, a pathogen (Greek: πάθος pathos "suffering", "passion" and -γενής -genēs "producer of") in the oldest and broadest sense, is anything that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a germ. The term pathogen came into use in the 1880s.[1][2
Zainab
A virus
Commander
Definition of respiration
Muhsin Reply
respiration is the process in which we breath in oxygen and breath out carbon dioxide
Achor
how are lungs work
Commander
where does digestion begins
Achiri Reply
in the mouth
EZEKIEL
what are the functions of follicle stimulating harmones?
Rashima Reply
stimulates the follicle to release the mature ovum into the oviduct
Davonte
what are the functions of Endocrine and pituitary gland
Chinaza
endocrine secrete hormone and regulate body process
Achor
while pituitary gland is an example of endocrine system and it's found in the Brain
Achor
what's biology?
Egbodo Reply
Biology is the study of living organisms, divided into many specialized field that cover their morphology, physiology,anatomy, behaviour,origin and distribution.
Lisah
biology is the study of life.
Alfreda
Biology is the study of how living organisms live and survive in a specific environment
Sifune
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Source:  OpenStax, Technology grade 7. OpenStax CNX. Sep 10, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11032/1.1
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