The taller and thinner a structure is, the more likely it is that buckling will occur. Bending With the same straw, we can demonstrate bending. Let the straw lay horizontally across a gap made by 2 books. The distance between the books is called the span. This time push the straww in the middle, it will bend and then collapse, sort of the same way as it buckled, but this time because of the load from the side.
Triangles are a simple but important structural construction method.
Take another straw and make a triangle. Set the triangle on a table and press down on the point. The triangle will take a lot of force. Try a load at the point, but in a sideways direction. Note how the side legs help bear the load.