base

[bluefire]

me and my partner were wondering what size we should make the base of our tower?

[lllazar]

Well, the rules say that the base must span a 20x20 cm square, but this doesn't mean the base has to be 20x20 cm. For example, you could make it 16x16 and just position is so that the corners are on the platform, thus spanning the base.

Good luck!

[bluefire]

i still don't understand what the rules mean by spanning a 20cm by 20cm opening . if the base was 16cm by 16cm, then wouldn't the tower just fall through the hole

[nejanimb]

It means exactly that: There is a square hole, 20cm by 20cm, cut into the testing platform. There are an infinite number of base sizes that can span that gap. You can have a rectangular base that is 20.2cm by 3cm, or you can have a square base that's 16cm by 16cm, or you can have a triangular base. Anything that supports your tower on the testing platform and suspends the loading block over the center of the square opening.

[lllazar]

But if you think about it in a physics sense - you wan't the legs of the base to be as vertical as possible.

[Bubba1960]

You can do a 16 X 16 cm base and rotate it 45 degrees.

[blue cobra]

You can do a 16 X 16 cm base and rotate it 45 degrees.

Big difference.

[Bubba1960]

I ment cm

[disownedpear]

if you use a 16cm by 16cm base it makes the tower lighter than using a 20cm by 20cm

[lllazar]

Uhh...is that a question? Then yes


I was wondering - since the base legs take more force, would it be a good idea to make them large than the columns in the upper portion of the tower - say, 3/16 in^2?