Develop spatial imagination

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The most durable construction

Which geometric solid known to us has the greatest strength? Which is most resistant to external deformations?

The tetrahedron (regular polyhedron) forms a rigid, statically definable construction. A tetrahedron made of rods is often used to create spatial bearing structures of spans of buildings, floors, beams, trusses, bridges, etc.

The rods have only longitudinal loads.
What lies behind the term stiffness?
Stiffness is the ability of structural elements to resist deformation under external influence.
To understand this term, we simplify the problem, move from bulk models to flat ones.
If we take three metal or wooden planks, fix their ends with pins or studs, obtain a triangle, we will see that we will not change the shape of the resulting triangle.

A regular triangle, a triangle with which all sides are equal, has the highest resistance to deformation.

ot rigid construction direction of force

Plates assembled in the shape of a square may shift after the application of force. Internal corners are changing.
Thus, the quadrilateral (square) is not a rigid figure. That is, it is subject to deformation.

The sides of a triangle determine its angles uniquely.
Of all the polygons, only the triangle is a rigid figure.
The triangle's property is used in many constructions (bridges, tower cranes, pylons of electric transmission lines).

Demonstrate the example of a crane jib.
The construction is a sequential combination of tetrahedrons (red) and quadrangular pyramids (green).

Rafters of buildings have the form of triangles. This gives them strength and stability.

When constructing a garden gate, a board (board) must be added, sometimes two planks to make triangles. This gives strength to the gate; otherwise, it will soon warp.

From practical examples of applying a rigid triangular structure, we return to exact mathematical bodies — the tetrahedron.
The tetrahedron will be considered as a rib construction.
Each of the four sides of the tetrahedron is a regular triangle. Since the rods forming these regular triangles are not subject to deformation all together, these six rods (edges) of the tetrahedron create an extremely rigid structure.
No other solid has such strong characteristics.

We suggest you assemble a tetrahedron model of six separate rods (edges).
For assembly, you will need to print the drawing on two A4 sheets. Download nets edge tetrahedron here.

First, you need to glue each of the six edges of the tetrahedron.
Then glue the base of the three ribs and consistently paste another three edges to it.

We get the edge model of a tetrahedron.

Rotation of a polyhedron

The most durable construction

Which geometric solid known to us has the greatest strength? Which is most resistant to external deformations?

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