Experiment

Testing brick bonds

The strengths of different types of bonds (patterns of building the bricks) can be tested as shown above.

1. You need some rectangular blocks, a length of guttering propped up at one end, and a big marble.

2.Build the blocks in a regular pattern a short distance away from the guttering.

3. Place (not push) the marble on the top of the guttering to roll towards the blocks.

4. Count how many move or fall down.

5. Build the bricks again in a different way (another bond) in the same spot and try again. Find the strongest way to build the bricks.