How can I test if wood is stronger than steel (pound for pound)?
Im doing a science fair project on said topic and need to know how to test this question. Also I need to know if I need any special tools/equipment to do so. Oh and please don't give me replys like " there's no way wood is stronger than steel or it would be used in buildings" i just need what's asked.
There are a few different strength tests you can do:
1.) Use a hydraulic car jack with a load cell (or a bathroom scale) to compress a wood beam and a metal beam until they buckle
2.) Use a "come-along" ratchet and a tension "fish scale" to stretch a wood beam and a metal beam in tension until they snap.
In both cases, the test pieces should be similar in size, and since steel is very strong, the beams will have to be pretty thin.
FYI, if you wanted to do a "real" test, you would use an Instron machine (www.instron.com)
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