Geodesic Dome

This video segment adapted from Building Big highlights the evolution of the geodesic dome, designed by legendary architect and inventor, Buckminster Fuller.

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Hoover Dam

This video segment from Building Big: "Dams," demonstrates the basic principals at work in the Hoover Dam, a concrete gravity dam that also makes use of the properties of the arch.

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Investigating a Suspension Bridge

In this video segment adapted from ZOOM, the cast builds a suspension bridge from a couple of chairs, some cardboard, and rope.

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It's Cool to Be a Civil Engineer

Who decides how massive structures like skyscrapers are made? This video segment adapted from Thinking Big, Building Small showcases the job of a civil engineer.

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Kid Designer: A Comfortable Cardboard Chair

Follow along in this video segment from ZOOM as 13-year-old Nick explains how he came up with a design, tested materials, and constructed his own cardboard chair.

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Loads Lab

This interactive activity from the Building Big Web site examines different types of loads and how structures might be reinforced to withstand them.

Longitudinal Waves

In this silent animation a hand compresses a slinky to start a compression or longitudinal wave, a type of wave where the disturbance lines up with the direction the wave travels.

Masses and Springs

In this interactive simulation adapted from the University of Colorado's Physics Education Technology project, hang various masses from different springs and see the kinetic, potential, and thermal energy of each spring system. You can even slow time or move your demonstration to another planet.

Mass vs. Weight: Stretching Mass

In this video from NASA's Teaching From Space series, an astronaut on board the International Space Station demonstrates weightlessness by comparing two water bags - one full and one empty - tethered to a line by stretchable bands.

Materials Lab

This interactive activity from the Building Big Web site explores the properties of different types of building materials.

Next-Generation Space Suits

In this video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, MIT engineer Dava Newman is working to replace today's bulky, inflated space suits with a radical, sleek design that may one day allow astronauts to walk easily on Mars.

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Origins of Wave Energy

Using Slinkys, students will investigate different types of mechanical waves. They will investigate how waves move differently through different mediums.

Pantheon Dome

This video segment adapted from Building Big: "Domes" illustrates how the design of the Pantheon Dome emerged out of another form, the arch.

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Physics of Arches

In this interactive activity from NOVA, try your hand at constructing a stone arch and learn about the physics that affect the arch.

Robo Arm Challenge

In this video from Design Squad Nation, kids design and build controllable mechanical arms and use them to lift objects and play games. They also learn how NASA uses robotic arms on many of its missions.

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Shapes Lab

This interactive activity from the Building Big Web site compares the strengths of the rectangle, triangle, and arch.

Shapes That Make Structures Strong

Students explore the various shapes engineers choose to make structures strong -- in particular, triangles, arches, and domes.

The Skyscraper Challenge

In this interactive activity from the Building Big Web site, investigate hypothetical structural emergencies and figure out how to repair them.

Smart Bridges

In this video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, learn about engineering innovations that could help detect a bridge's structural weaknesses before they become dangerous.

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Soft Landing Challenge

In this video from Design Squad Nation, kids model NASA’s airbag landing system. They design and build protective covers made of balloons to protect an egg dropped from a height of three feet.

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