Spaghetti "Oops!"

How much mass can be supported by a stick of spaghetti?

PLAN

Fix a single stick of (uncooked) spaghetti in an upright position.

Gradually lower a known mass onto the upper end of the spaghetti stick.

Increase this mass until the spaghetti stick bends and breaks.

Repeat this with 2 sticks of spaghetti tied together with cotton.

Repeat with 3 sticks ... and so on.

I WILL NEED

A pack of uncooked spaghetti.

A set of weights.

Some cotton.

Paper and pencil.

I MAY NEED

Some plasticene or blu-tak.

FAIR TEST

It may be necessary to repeat each part of the investigation several times to ensure a reliable result.

PREDICTION

What do you think might happen?

Will the 2 sticks support twice the mass?

Will 3 sticks support 3 times the mass?

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY

How did you fix the spaghetti in an upright position?

How did you lower the mass onto the spaghetti?

What did you observe?  Can you explain this?  Did you encounter any problems?  What did you do to overcome these?

COLLECT

DATA

What mass is supported by 1, 2, 3, etc. ... sticks of spaghetti?

ANALYSE

DATA

Is there a pattern to your results?

Perhaps you could draw a graph?

Does this make your results any easier to analyse?

PRESENT

FINDINGS

Explain clearly what you did.

Would a diagram help to explain how you fixed the spaghetti upright - or how you lowered the mass?

Could you take some photographs to show how much the spaghetti bent?

EVALUATE

INVESTIGATION

Which part of your investigation could have been improved?

How could you have improved it?

If you have carried out this investigation, click the icon to send in your results to Brainboxx and we may publish your work on the website.  It is best to e-mail the results of your investigation or you may need to send them by post.  Make sure you get permission from a teacher, parent or other adult before you get in touch.