Strength of sand and cement mixes
In this activity, students mix different combinations of sand and cement with water. Small tiles of these combinations will be fashioned, left aside to cure and then tested for bending or flexural strength.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
describe the link between calcium carbonate and cement production
appreciate the role water plays in hydrating the cement
explain how the sand, cement and water ingredients combine to produce, after curing, a hard end-product
recall a simple procedure that can be applied to test the bending or flexural strength of a cement tile
recommend a combination of ingredients that gives maximum strength to the tile.
Laying concrete
Cement is a key ingredient of concrete, huge volumes of which are poured each day to serve as roading, foundations, structural beams and columns.
Download the Word file (see link below) for:
introduction/background notes
what you need
what to do
student handout.
Related Content
Use these articles below to help introduce some of the ideas and concepts behind this activity:
Carbonate chemistry – Calcium carbonate is the principal mineral component of limestone. Its chemical and physical properties lie behind the societal use of limestone and the unique limestone landscapes of the countryside.
Limestone uses – The calcium carbonate content of limestone rocks has been used from the earliest civilisations. Today, it is a valuable resource that services the needs of a multitude of industries.
