Changing Shapes of Solids

Question 1

Which of these objects can be stretched most easily?

Accepted Answer

the rubber band

Answer

the piece of clay

Answer

the metal spoon

Answer

the wooden block

Question 2

Mia has three solid objects: 1) a ball of soft modeling clay, 2) a short piece of dry spaghetti, 3) a thin rubber ribbon. She tries to change each one: - She presses the clay flat with her hand. - She tries to bend the spaghetti into a curve. - She pulls the rubber ribbon to make it longer. Which description correctly tells what happens to each object?

Accepted Answer

The clay becomes flat, the spaghetti snaps into two pieces, and the rubber ribbon gets longer.

Answer

The clay stays the same shape, the spaghetti snaps into two pieces, and the rubber ribbon stays the same length.

Answer

The clay becomes flat, the spaghetti bends into a curve, and the rubber ribbon gets longer.

Answer

The clay becomes flat, the spaghetti bends into a curve, and the rubber ribbon tears.

Question 3

You have a soft clay cube. You want to change it into a thin, curly worm shape (a long rope that is spiraled). Which sequence of shape‑changing actions will let you do this, using each of the four ways – squashing, bending, twisting, and stretching – exactly once?

Accepted Answer

First squash the cube, then stretch it into a thin rope, then bend the rope into a curve, then twist the curve into a spiral.

Answer

First bend the cube into a curve, then squash the curved piece, then stretch it, then twist it.

Answer

First twist the cube, then bend it, then squash it, then stretch it.

Answer

First stretch the cube, then squash it, then bend the result, then twist it into a spiral.

Try three questions

Which of these objects can be stretched most easily?

You have a soft clay cube. You want to change it into a thin, curly worm shape (a long rope that is spiraled). Which sequence of shape‑changing actions will let you do this, using each of the four ways – squashing, bending, twisting, and stretching – exactly once?

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