BUDDING ENGINEERS EMBRACE THE WONDERS OF DUCT TAPE.Byline: Jim Feehan The Register-Guard When all else fails, slap on more duct tape duct tape n. A usually silver adhesive tape made of cloth mesh coated with a waterproof material, originally designed for sealing heating and air-conditioning ducts. Noun 1. . During the second annual Junkyard Inventions competition at the Science Factory on Saturday, about 100 budding engineers discovered that a roll of the all-purpose adhesive does wonders. Using scissors scissors Cutting instrument or tool consisting of a pair of opposed metal blades that meet and cut when the handles at their ends are brought together. Modern scissors are of two types: the more usual pivoted blades have a rivet or screw connection between the cutting ends , glue, string, egg cartons, yogurt lids and an assortment of other recycled household items, children competed in building bridges, skyscrapers and catapults. Zach Chalmers of Eugene stretched some twine twine: see cordage. to strengthen his makeshift bridge. Chalmers, 12, also used Popsicle sticks and a plastic tray for the roadbed road·bed n. 1. a. The foundation upon which the ties, rails, and ballast of a railroad are laid. b. A layer of ballast directly under the ties. 2. The foundation and surface of a road. of his two-lane bridge. "The key is to keep the twine real tight; that and lots of duct tape," he said. But Chalmers has no intention of building bridges in the future. Instead, Chalmers wants to pursue a doctoral degree in quantum physics quantum physics n. (used with a sing. verb) The branch of physics that uses quantum theory to describe and predict the properties of a physical system. quantum physics See quantum mechanics. , he said. "I might want to teach. It pays well and you get lots of vacations," said Chalmers, which drew a smile from his father, John Chalmers John George Chalmers (born c.1880 in New York; died c.1962) was the seventh head football coach at the University of Iowa, coaching from 1903-1906. He also coached at Loras College and the University of Dubuque. Background John G. , associate professor of finance at the University of Oregon The University of Oregon is a public university located in Eugene, Oregon. The university was founded in 1876, graduating its first class two years later. The University of Oregon is one of 60 members of the Association of American Universities. . Zach's two brothers, Max and Mikkel Chalmers, were fashioning their own bridge, dubbed the Silver Gate Bridge, of egg cartons, plastic 6-pack rings and copious amounts of duct tape. "In designing strong structures, arch support is important," Max said. The event was held in conjunction with National Engineering Week, said Tracey Edmundson, Science Factory education and volunteer coordinator. "The hands-on exhibits spark interest among kids, and that's important as the United States falls farther behind (other industrialized in·dus·tri·al·ize v. in·dus·tri·al·ized, in·dus·tri·al·iz·ing, in·dus·tri·al·iz·es v.tr. 1. To develop industry in (a country or society, for example). 2. nations) in math and sciences," Edmundson said. Meanwhile, in the lab classroom in the back of the Science Factory, skyscraper builders were busy at work. The skyscraper of Ben Mladenich, 9 , of Eugene, towered 12 feet in the air, nearly touching the room's high vaulted ceiling. Cardboard boxes, yogurt lids, straws compact discs, tongue depressors and the ubiquitous roll of duct tape were used in Mladenich's skyscraper. "I used lots of tape and we prayed for it to stay up," he said. The skyscraper was in place for about 15 minutes before its top came to rest against a ceiling light fixture. "I guess you can call it the leaning tower of Ben," said Ben's mother, Mary Livermore of Eugene. |
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