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🏗️ Building strong

How do bridges hold up so much weight? Simple, true building strong facts for young children, each with a fun fact, a tiny activity and a question to talk about together.

Tap a question to reveal the answer, share the fun fact, try the tiny activity, then talk about it together.

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How do bridges hold up so much weight? Revealexpand_more

A bridge carries weight by spreading it out and sending it down into strong supports at each end or in the middle. Some bridges hang from cables, some rest on arches, and some use frames of triangles, but all of them guide the load safely down to the ground. The clever shape does the heavy work.

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Talk about itWhat is the longest or tallest bridge you have ever crossed?

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Did you know?The longest bridges are so long that you cannot see one end from the other.

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Try itLay a flat paper across two cups and press it, then fold the paper into ridges and try again. The folds hold more.

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🏗️📐Why are triangles so strong in buildings?🏛️Why is an arch such a strong shape?🏙️How do skyscrapers stand up so tall?

🤖Still curious?Why do some bridges have huge cables and towers?arrow_forward

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Why are triangles so strong in buildings? Revealexpand_more

A triangle is the sturdiest simple shape because its three sides hold each other in place and cannot be pushed out of shape. A square can lean over into a slanted shape, but a triangle stays put. That is why you see triangles inside bridges, roofs, towers and cranes.

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Talk about itWhere can you spot triangles holding something up around you?

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Did you know?Add one diagonal bar to a wobbly square and it turns into two strong triangles.

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Try itMake a square from four straws and push it, then add a straw corner to corner. Feel how the triangle locks it firm.

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🏗️🌉How do bridges hold up so much weight?🏙️How do skyscrapers stand up so tall?🏛️Why is an arch such a strong shape?

🤖Still curious?Why do tall towers often look like they are made of triangles?arrow_forward

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How do skyscrapers stand up so tall? Revealexpand_more

A skyscraper stands on a strong skeleton of steel and concrete that carries its weight straight down into deep foundations in the ground. The frame is built to stay stiff, and tall towers are also designed to sway just a little in strong wind instead of snapping. Deep, solid roots keep the giant steady.

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Talk about itWould you like to live or work at the very top of a skyscraper? Why?

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Did you know?The tallest buildings sway gently at the top on a windy day, by design.

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Try itStack blocks as high as you can on a wide base, then on a narrow one. A wide, deep base stays up far better.

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🏗️🌉How do bridges hold up so much weight?📐Why are triangles so strong in buildings?🏛️Why is an arch such a strong shape?

🤖Still curious?How do very tall buildings survive strong winds and earthquakes?arrow_forward

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Why is an arch such a strong shape? Revealexpand_more

An arch is a curved shape that carries weight by passing it smoothly down its curve and out to strong supports on each side. Instead of one spot taking all the load, the whole arch shares it, so it can hold up bridges and doorways for a very long time. Many ancient arches still stand today.

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Talk about itWhere have you seen an arch, in a bridge, a doorway or a castle?

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Did you know?Some stone arches built by the Romans are still standing after two thousand years.

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Try itCurve your hand into an arch on the table and press down on top. Feel how the curve pushes the force out to your fingers.

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🏗️🌉How do bridges hold up so much weight?📐Why are triangles so strong in buildings?🏙️How do skyscrapers stand up so tall?

🤖Still curious?Why does an arch not need anything holding up its middle?arrow_forward

🏗️ Building strong

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