Design Efficiency:  Building Better Boxes

Mr. Russell's Geometry class explored different designs and different measures of "efficiency."  Groups were to choose from among three containers to design and build.  They wrote (individual) persuasive essays on why their design is the best, and they calculated design efficiency in terms of volume per object contained and surface area per object contained.

• A tetrahedral container that would hold four tennis balls,
• A container (any shape) that would hold four softballs or six tennis balls, or
• A container (any shape) that would hold seven regular pyramids, each with 2" square bases and heights of 3".

Enjoy the photo gallery of the class efforts!

Pride... ... this group had it, even devising a logo for their design team (long live LAMA!)	This group is very smug about their tetrahedral box...
Concentration...	Not a tight fit, but at least all four fit in the box!
Sure, everyone else smile.  I'm the one that has to hold the thing.	It's all about PRECISION.
What a box!  Least efficient in terms of Tape/unit volume... but no wasted volume!	Chuk frets over the design, while Kumars tries to win bonus points with his smile.