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Questions for Discussion: Triangles: Testing the Strength of a Gumdrop Dome
Why do you think the gumdrop domes work? Explain in terms of pushes and pulls. When a load that is too large is finally put on the gumdrop domes, how do you think they will fail? Will the toothpicks pull out, push through, or do something else? Do you think the toothpicks would ever break? What are some other objects or buildings that are constructed from triangles made into a dome? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a dome construction for a building such as a house?
