Form and Function:Part 1 –Identifying Structures in the World

Mr. Williams – Grade 7 Science

What are we going to learn?• By the end of this unit, you will be able to

understand the following concepts:– All structures have a purpose– The form of a structure is dependent on its

function– The interaction between structures and forces is

predictable

Holding Up Things…• Ok, so your desk holds all of your papers and

books. Your chair supports and holds you while you are sitting. All of these things are able to do so without tipping over. How are these structures able to do this?

• Lets find out…• You are going to build a support to hold a

textbook 30cm above the desk. Your materials include:

• Building rods ($0.10 each)• Masking tape ($0.50 per half meter)

• Your objective is to build a structure that will support the book with the cheapest material cost!

• Good luck!!!

Structures all around us• Most of you think of structures as buildings

right? However, structures are much more than this.

• Telephone poles• A cup• Pens and pencils• Parking lots

A structure is anything made of parts put together for a particular purpose or purposes.

• Structures can be man made or found in nature

VW Autostadt in Wolfsburg, Germany

Structures in nature

Structures in nature

Structures in nature

Form and Function• All structures have at least one functionFunction – The task or purpose of a structure

• For example: The roof of a house is used to protect the house from different weather conditions.

• All structures also have a shape, which is usually related to its function.

Form – The shape and physical appearance of a structure

• Some people want their structures to look good too, so there are many organizations that design their structures for people to notice them.

Look at Form

Look at Form

Look at Form

CheckpointComplete the “check your learning” questions on the

bottom of page #269