Transcript: Columns: Finding the Strongest Shape

(humming)

VOICE: (gasps) Ooh!

PABLO: Tom G. of Revere, Massachusetts, sent us this challenge. Make four shapes of paper—a tent, a triangle, a box and a cylinder—then test them to see which one can hold the most books.

ALISA: What do you think will happen?

PABLO: Well, I think the tent will not support not even one book, because it's, like, there's not much support. There's just this thing right here, and they'll just go...

ALISA: There's nothing, like, underneath to help it stay up.

PABLO: This might, but... I don't know.

ALISA: I think these three might work good.

PABLO: Maybe.

ALISA: Let's test this one first, because these all look like they have enough support, so maybe they'll work. Okay, do it gently. I'm not even putting it on. Whoa... that was a flop.

PABLO: No, I don't think...

ALISA: Let's try it another way.

PABLO: How about the long way?

ALISA: Okay. Kerplunk. Okay. (imitating plane dive-bombing)

PABLO: Guess that one didn't work because, um... it was just... it was, like, this was no support—the support was right there.

ALISA: In the fold.

PABLO: All right, let's test...

ALISA: Triangle?

PABLO: Triangle. This one looks like it can support it.

ALISA: Yeah. Um... nope. I have to say that didn't work.

PABLO: Uh... Why do you think it didn't work?

ALISA: Maybe because, like, where the folds are, there's the most strength, because it can hold my finger up, but right here, there's no strength so that the book—when I put pressure here, it collapsed.

PABLO: Oh.

ALISA: So... Okay, this one now?

PABLO: Yep.

ALISA: This is almost the same thing as the triangle, so do you think it will work? Because it's got the folds, and then this part...

PABLO: It will probably do the same thing as the triangle, but let's just see.

ALISA: A girl's touch is always more careful.

PABLO: Yep. (gasps)

ALISA: No! You have to face it—our square...

PABLO: Oh, but it almost did.

ALISA: I know, it, like, stayed for, like, a "ding!" and then it dropped. You're our only hope.

PABLO: Come on, Mr. Cylinder.

ALISA: Okay, so, you have to place the book right even, right?

PABLO: Yeah.

PABLO AND ALISA: Yeah!

ALISA: Whoa, watch out!

PABLO: Okay.

ALISA: Okay. Try the next one.

PABLO: No! But at least it held one.

ALISA: Yeah.

PABLO: Well, first—why do you think it did hold?

ALISA: Because, remem... Well, I think because, like, you know how I said that the folds were, like, stronger and the sides were, like, bleah? Well, it's all the same. All the weight is even on this...

PABLO: Oh!

ALISA: So it, like, took it evenly. Hip, hip, hooray! Yay!