Why can a skyscraper have walls made mostly of glass?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why can a skyscraper have walls made mostly of glass?

The Big Idea

Some skyscrapers look like giant mirrors made of glass. How can glass walls hold up a tower? They don't have to!

The Frame Does It

Step one: The Frame Does It. In a skyscraper, the steel frame holds the weight. So the outer walls do not have to.

Curtain Walls

Step two: Curtain Walls. The glass panels simply hang from the frame like curtains. That is why they are called curtain walls.

Smart Glass

Step three: Smart Glass. The glass can have thin coatings and layers of air to keep heat in or out. Big windows let in daylight and give people great views.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The frame holds the weight. Glass panels hang from it. Coatings control heat. Daylight pours in.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Some glass panels are as big as a door and weigh hundreds of pounds. Dot patterns on glass help birds see it and avoid crashing. Layers of air insulate. Washers clean the glass.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, look at a tall glass building from the street. Count how many panels fit in one floor's height. Count how many floors it has. Draw the building. How many panels might it have in total?

Outro

A skyscraper can have glass walls because its steel frame holds the weight. The glass panels hang from the frame like curtains, with coatings and air layers to control heat. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Share what you learned with someone at home, and see what they think! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!