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Careers: Physics/Paper Tower
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Question
Hi,
My tech project is to create a paper tower with only sheet of 8 1/2" but 11" paper, 3 feet of tape, scissors, ruler and a pencil. The taller it is, the better.
Any advice?
Thanks,
Ami
Hi Ami:
This is not really a Physics Careers question but i can give you some hints. Look for how to build trusses. The truss is the typical element in a bridge and it is very effective in holding load. Typically this involves a lot of cross-bracing.
Once you have a truss design, you need to make the beams which are used to build up the trusses. Start by thinking how you can assemble strips of paper in such a way as to make rigid beams. One way is to make I beams and then make trusses out of those.
Best of luck!
Carlo
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Carlo Segre
Expertise
I can answer most questions about studying physics in college and graduate school; questions about condensed matter physics; x-ray physics; synchrotron radiation; and general and modern physics. I can also answer questions about careers in academia.
Experience
Professor of physics for 27 years at Illinois Institute of Technology. Academic adviser for undergraduates and graduate students. I have served on university promotion and tenure committees, search committees for Deans and Department Chairs. I have also been an Associate Department Chair and an Associate Dean. I have 30 years experience in materials science research and I have been responsible for building and now managing a User facility at the Advanced Photon Source.
Organizations
American Physical Society
Sigma Xi
American Chemical Society
American Associate for the Advancement of Science
International Centre for Diffraction Data (Fellow)
International X-ray Absorption Society
Publications
Nature;
Physical Review Letters;
Physical Review;
Applied Physics Letters;
Journal of Physical Chemistry;
Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials;
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics;
Solid State Communications;
Physics Letters;
Journal of Low Temperature Physics;
Journal of Crystal Growth and Design;
Physics Letters;
Journal of Applied Physics;
Journal of Archaeological Science;
Physica C;
Corrosion Science;
Electrochimica Acta;
Journal of Nuclear Materials
Education/Credentials
Ph.D. Physics, 1981 - University of California, San Diego
M.S. Physics, 1977 - University of California, San Diego
B.S. Physics, 1976 - University of illinois, Champaign-Urbana
B.S. Chemistry 1976 - University of illinois, Champaign-Urbana
Awards and Honors
Fellow, International Center for Diffraction Data
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