Cardboard Chairs:
Project Outline: In order to fancy up our energy efficient passive solar house, we decided to create some furniture to add some much-needed decor to the place. For this project, we built chairs out of solely cardboard. We could make chairs with any size, shape, and design. The only restrictions/criteria were:
1. Single-ply cardboard
2. No use of fasteners or glue (only cardboard)
3. A maximum of 64 square feet of cardboard
4. Thickness of cardboard may not exceed 1/4 of an inch
1. Single-ply cardboard
2. No use of fasteners or glue (only cardboard)
3. A maximum of 64 square feet of cardboard
4. Thickness of cardboard may not exceed 1/4 of an inch
Key Concepts:
1. Tensile strength
2. Compressive strength
3. Center of gravity (of chair with and without a person seated on it)
4. Structures
5. Knowing how to make & scale models
1. Tensile strength
2. Compressive strength
3. Center of gravity (of chair with and without a person seated on it)
4. Structures
5. Knowing how to make & scale models
Cardboard Chairs Complete Project Rubric:
[] Taken directly from our Rubric.
Function:
- [ "All the chair's dimensions are appropriate for a person to sit in comfortably. The back & seat have no protrusions that interfere with comfortable sitting. The seat/back angle and other aspects of design are developed with comfort in mind."
- We made the seat more comfortable by putting a layer of flat cardboard over the trusses; we also rounded off the backside so that it was more stable, and wouldn't collapse if you leaned back. Also, the cardboard back originally had pointy edges, so we rounded it off.
- [ "All the chair's dimensions are appropriate for a person to sit in comfortably. The back & seat have no protrusions that interfere with comfortable sitting. The seat/back angle and other aspects of design are developed with comfort in mind."
- We made the seat more comfortable by putting a layer of flat cardboard over the trusses; we also rounded off the backside so that it was more stable, and wouldn't collapse if you leaned back. Also, the cardboard back originally had pointy edges, so we rounded it off.
Structure:
- [ "The seat can support a person whose weight is centered anywhere on the chair's seat. The seat & back can support a load that is somewhat of a dynamic load." ]
- In order to address structure, our group tried to implement trusses into our design. However, because we couldn't use any adhesives, we weren't able to use trusses in their most natural, strongest form. Instead, we used them more for sideways stability, although the shape of the triangle proved to strengthen the structure vertically as well. It helped dissipate the weight.
- [ "The seat can support a person whose weight is centered anywhere on the chair's seat. The seat & back can support a load that is somewhat of a dynamic load." ]
- In order to address structure, our group tried to implement trusses into our design. However, because we couldn't use any adhesives, we weren't able to use trusses in their most natural, strongest form. Instead, we used them more for sideways stability, although the shape of the triangle proved to strengthen the structure vertically as well. It helped dissipate the weight.
Aesthetics:
- [ "Line was used to unify the chair's design and to suggest a spirit, theme, mood or other aesthetic theme. The use of these lines was intentional and its intended psychological impact was justified." ]
- We ended up sacrificing aesthetics a bit because we were rushed when doing our project, and also because we were more focused on structure. We tried to make it pleasing to the eye by choosing plain, unwrinkled pieces of cardboard, and we also cut the back in a nice arched formation, instead of being all jagged and square.
- [ "Line was used to unify the chair's design and to suggest a spirit, theme, mood or other aesthetic theme. The use of these lines was intentional and its intended psychological impact was justified." ]
- We ended up sacrificing aesthetics a bit because we were rushed when doing our project, and also because we were more focused on structure. We tried to make it pleasing to the eye by choosing plain, unwrinkled pieces of cardboard, and we also cut the back in a nice arched formation, instead of being all jagged and square.
Economy:
- [ "The chair's design is considered to maximize its strength, function, aesthetic qualities while using the least amount of material practical to do its intended job. All decisions regarding economic use of material are justified." ]
- Because we used trusses, the chair is very economical and uses very little cardboard. Instead of full sheets of cardboard, a simple triangle could do the trick and hold more weight at the same time.
- [ "The chair's design is considered to maximize its strength, function, aesthetic qualities while using the least amount of material practical to do its intended job. All decisions regarding economic use of material are justified." ]
- Because we used trusses, the chair is very economical and uses very little cardboard. Instead of full sheets of cardboard, a simple triangle could do the trick and hold more weight at the same time.
Integrity:
- [ "An honest effort to complete the work and make the best possible chair is evident. The particular value of making chairs from cardboard, or lack ov value was considered." ]
- We accepted the fact that the cardboard chair was not the best way to go if you really wanted a suitable chair, but we did try really hard to make it as comfortable and usable as possible.
- [ "An honest effort to complete the work and make the best possible chair is evident. The particular value of making chairs from cardboard, or lack ov value was considered." ]
- We accepted the fact that the cardboard chair was not the best way to go if you really wanted a suitable chair, but we did try really hard to make it as comfortable and usable as possible.
Making Trade-Offs:
- [ "Serious weight was given to each of the five design criteria (above) in regard to meeting or exceeding the Challenge's specifics. For example, we tried to reduce material use purely to save material. We considered sacrificing strength for aesthetic reasons." ]
- We traded off structure and stability for aesthetics.
- [ "Serious weight was given to each of the five design criteria (above) in regard to meeting or exceeding the Challenge's specifics. For example, we tried to reduce material use purely to save material. We considered sacrificing strength for aesthetic reasons." ]
- We traded off structure and stability for aesthetics.
Decision Making:
- [ "Decisions were made only when evidence or their impact was presented and evaluated. Test data was collected and considered when possible." ]
- We showed good decision making by using the trusses based on factual evidence that we found through our labs and prior experience.
- [ "Decisions were made only when evidence or their impact was presented and evaluated. Test data was collected and considered when possible." ]
- We showed good decision making by using the trusses based on factual evidence that we found through our labs and prior experience.
Group Process:
- [ "The group functioned as a team. Individuals reacted responsibly and were held accountable to do their work efficiently, effectively, and with respect of others. Leadership rotated as was appropriate to the work. Deadlines were set and met and a good record of the work, investigations and decisions were kept." ]
- We worked really well as a group. Our first model ended up collapsing, and I had to take it home to finish it the night before our presentation, but as a whole, our group shared responsibilities equally.
- [ "The group functioned as a team. Individuals reacted responsibly and were held accountable to do their work efficiently, effectively, and with respect of others. Leadership rotated as was appropriate to the work. Deadlines were set and met and a good record of the work, investigations and decisions were kept." ]
- We worked really well as a group. Our first model ended up collapsing, and I had to take it home to finish it the night before our presentation, but as a whole, our group shared responsibilities equally.
Reflection:
The cardboard chair experiment was extremely interesting. Our group worked really well, and focused when we had to do work. I thought that our presentation was really evidence-based, and we actually put a lot of time into the research. I learned a lot about trusses and structural stability throughout the entire process, and I learned that building things requires a lot more than just spontaneous trial and error. You can't just do "sort-of's" and "that looks about right" in construction, because without proper structure, the whole thing will collapse. Our first chair, we sort of just cut randomly and if it looked alright, we added it to the chair. We also found out that our model wasn't going to work full-scale, and since we were low on time, didn't really make a new model and just went with what worked. That was our greatest pitfall because in the end, it was so unstable that a little shuffle in the hallway made it fall apart completely. I took it home and finished it, so in the end, had we just re-made a model with the right measurements so we wouldn't have to guess, it would've been a lot less time-consuming. Also, the other pitfall in this experiment were our connection points. We quickly realized that despite our first model's very strong X-shape underneath the seat, which supported weight well, it required connection points in order to stay put. Once we added slits to it, the chair lost all of its stability and fell down with a small nudge. As a whole, this was a great learning process, and even if our chair wasn't exactly usable, it was certainly fun to build!
The cardboard chair experiment was extremely interesting. Our group worked really well, and focused when we had to do work. I thought that our presentation was really evidence-based, and we actually put a lot of time into the research. I learned a lot about trusses and structural stability throughout the entire process, and I learned that building things requires a lot more than just spontaneous trial and error. You can't just do "sort-of's" and "that looks about right" in construction, because without proper structure, the whole thing will collapse. Our first chair, we sort of just cut randomly and if it looked alright, we added it to the chair. We also found out that our model wasn't going to work full-scale, and since we were low on time, didn't really make a new model and just went with what worked. That was our greatest pitfall because in the end, it was so unstable that a little shuffle in the hallway made it fall apart completely. I took it home and finished it, so in the end, had we just re-made a model with the right measurements so we wouldn't have to guess, it would've been a lot less time-consuming. Also, the other pitfall in this experiment were our connection points. We quickly realized that despite our first model's very strong X-shape underneath the seat, which supported weight well, it required connection points in order to stay put. Once we added slits to it, the chair lost all of its stability and fell down with a small nudge. As a whole, this was a great learning process, and even if our chair wasn't exactly usable, it was certainly fun to build!