In your

1
Water Tower Notes
Step 1 Learn About Water Towers How They Work
In your own words how do water towers work?
What impact does elevation play on water pressure?
Step 2 Find Some Water Towers in the USA Using
GoogleEarth
Where do you want to place your water tower?
What shapes are the water towers you found?
2
Water Tower Notes
Step 3 Think About Structure Design of Your
Water Tower
Describe your favorite water tower you found
looking at these sites.
What shape does your team want to use for your
water tower? Why?
Sketch your water tower. Include any designs
you may want to use.
3
Water Tower Notes
Step 4 Plan the Building of Your Water Tower
What advantages and disadvantages are there
if your team builds a cylinder?
Advantages Disadvantages
What advantages and disadvantages are there
if your team builds a rectangular prism?
Advantages Disadvantages
What 3-dimensional shape has your team agreed to
use for your water tower?
4
Water Tower Notes
Step 4 Plan the Building of Your Water Tower
The maximum volume of water that each tank will
hold will be 800,000 gallons. Decide what
dimensions you want for your water tower.
There are many possibilities.
If you chose to build a rectangular prismdecide
the dimensions of your length, width, and
height. Remember V L x W x
H
If you chose to build a cylinder decide the
dimensions of your height and radius. R
emember V pr x h
radius
height
height
width
length
2
5
Water Tower Notes
Step 4 Plan the Building of Your Water Tower
Calculate the amount of material you will need to
build your water tower. You will be calculating
the surface area of your 3-dimensional shape.
If you chose to build a rectangular prismdecide
the dimensions of your length, width, and
height. Remember SA 2(LxH)
2(WxH) 2(LxW)
If you chose to build a cylinder decide the
dimensions of your height and radius. R
emember SA 2pr 2prh
radius
height
height
width
length
2
6
Water Tower Notes
Step 4 Plan the Building of Your Water Tower
Calculate the area of land that your water tower
will occupy.
If you chose to build a rectangular prismdecide
the dimensions of your length and
width. Remember A L x
W
If you chose to build a cylinder decide the
dimensions of your radius. Remember
A pr
radius
width
length
2
7
Water Tower Notes
Step 5 Decide How to Market Your Company for
the Town
What were some good ways that the
company advertised their product?

What does your group want to do differently
to advertise your product?

8
Water Tower Notes
Step 6 Create Your Proposal Build Your Scale
Model
What are your final dimensions? Sketch

How much water does your water tower hold? Volume

How much material do you need to build your
water tower? Surface Area

How much land does the water tower need? Area

Based on your dimensions decide your scale.
What do you want to equal 1 foot? 1 centimeter?
1 millimeter? 1 inch?
Create a 3-dimensional model of your water tower
that is built to scale. This will take time and
patience.
9
Water Tower Notes
Step 6 Create Your Proposal Build Your Scale
Model
What other visual besides your 3-dimensional model
are you going to have?

What is your group going to say to convince
the town (the class) that your water tower is
the best?
Group Member 1 Group Member 2 Group
Member 3 Group Member 4
What materials does your group need for
your presentation?