Compound bodies in the Architects Office

The living room Gauss model consists of a total of 24 pieces of furniture or decorative items, each of which represents a composite geometric body. The miniature objects have different levels of difficulty. For example, the volumes of the decorative items or the sofa can be calculated more easily than those of the lamps, which, due to the more complex designs, require a more complex calculation. The 180-minute teaching phase can be divided into five phases. 1. Calculation of the total volume of the “living room Gauss” model • The pupils should first recognize the assembled geometric bodies and then be able to calculate their volumes using a formula collection. • The students read the dimensions within the various files in the 3D software TINKERCAD; alternatively, the dimensions can also be measured on the 3D-printed miniature furniture by using a Vernier calliper. • Tools: formula collection, learning video on how to use the TINKERCAD software (e.g. how do I read the dimensions of the model? How do I ungroup the models so that I can see all dimensions?) 2. Conversion of the volume into weight and calculation of the costs • The pupils calculate the total weight of the living room model in the various material types (gold, silver, bronze & wood) and units (kg or g) using the rule of three calculation. • Then the total costs of the living room model are calculated for each material type. • Tools: calculator and material & cost table: 3. Volume calculation of the special “Sphere” armchair • The stutends examine the 3D-printed object and discuss within the group which composite geometrical bodies the piece of furniture consists of. • The students recognize that the volume calculation of this armchair is not possible by using the current mathematical knowledge. 4. Creation of an own living room model for the architect’s office “Geometrie” • The pupils now create their own living room model using the 3D printing software TINKERCAD. 5. Presentation of the living room models and selection of the winning group • The students present their living room model to the class. The other students evaluate the models. • Furthermore, attention is paid to the printability of the models. • The living room model which has the smallest volume is printed. • The pupils improve possible construction errors regarding the printability of the winning model.

How to use this exercise?

The model is used to promote spatial imagination and geometric knowledge when calculating spatial figures.
1. In the 3D-printed furniture of the living room, the pupils first have to recognize the composite bodies. They calculate the individual volumes of the furniture (= assembled body). The individual dimensions are either read using the TINKERCAD software or measured with a Vernier calliper using the 3D-printed model. This is how the volume of the entire furniture of the living room is calculated.
2. The second major part of this exercise is to create a new living room furniture using the 3D software TINKERCAD.

Number of pieces of this exercise

22

General description

The living room Gauss model consists of a total of 24 pieces of furniture or decorative items, each of which represents a composite geometric body. The miniature objects have different levels of difficulty. For example, the volumes of the decorative items or the sofa can be calculated more easily than those of the lamps, which, due to the more complex designs, require a more complex calculation.
The 180-minute teaching phase can be divided into five phases.

1. Calculation of the total volume of the “living room Gauss” model
• The pupils should first recognize the assembled geometric bodies and then be able to calculate their volumes using a formula collection.
• The students read the dimensions within the various files in the 3D software TINKERCAD; alternatively, the dimensions can also be measured on the 3D-printed miniature furniture by using a Vernier calliper.
• Tools: formula collection, learning video on how to use the TINKERCAD software (e.g. how do I read the dimensions of the model? How do I ungroup the models so that I can see all dimensions?)

2. Conversion of the volume into weight and calculation of the costs
• The pupils calculate the total weight of the living room model in the various material types (gold, silver, bronze & wood) and units (kg or g) using the rule of three calculation.
• Then the total costs of the living room model are calculated for each material type.
• Tools: calculator and material & cost table:

3. Volume calculation of the special “Sphere” armchair
• The stutends examine the 3D-printed object and discuss within the group which composite geometrical bodies the piece of furniture consists of.
• The students recognize that the volume calculation of this armchair is not possible by using the current mathematical knowledge.

4. Creation of an own living room model for the architect’s office “Geometrie”
• The pupils now create their own living room model using the 3D printing software TINKERCAD.

5. Presentation of the living room models and selection of the winning group
• The students present their living room model to the class. The other students evaluate the models.
• Furthermore, attention is paid to the printability of the models.
• The living room model which has the smallest volume is printed.
• The pupils improve possible construction errors regarding the printability of the winning model.

Additional Material

Models used:

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