Designing a Building to Withstand an Earthquake In this activity, you will use marshmallows and toothpicks to construct a model building and see whether it can withstand an “earthquake.”

Estimated time to complete: 1 hour

You will need these materials:

small box of toothpicks
10.5-ounce bag of mini marshmallows
a triangular prism and a cube made from toothpicks and mini marshmallows

Hypothesis and Data Collection
Part A
You will be making a model building using toothpicks and marshmallows. The building must be at least two floors (stories) high. It should be able to stand on its own and withstand shaking without toppling over. In this approach, what problem are you trying to solve? What are some of the fixed, chosen, and adjustable design features?

Part B
Think about ways to design your two-story building. You can sketch ideas on paper or just build experimentally. Then, build and test a structure that can stand on its own. Redesign your building until it is able to stand. What is one key element to your design? If you can, snap a photo of your structure and upload it in the space below.

Part C
Once your building will stand on its own, place it on a table and bang the table with your hand a few times. Does your building topple over easily, or does it withstand the banging? If it topples over, go back to your design and try to design a building that withstands the force of the banging. Consider adding more toothpicks or more marshmallows or changing its shape. Continue to modify your building until it withstands the force of the moving table. Note any change that you made to the design.

Part D
After you have succeeded in building a stable two-story building, challenge yourself by adding a third story. Were you able to design a three-story structure that could withstand the banging of the table? What challenges did you have, and how did you try to overcome them?

Part A
Did your two-story building withstand the shaking of the table? If not, what modifications did you attempt to make and why?