Lesson1: Concrete

Concrete is all around us, whether it’s on the streets we walk on or the structures we inhabit. Concrete has been used for thousands of years and is the second most commonly utilized substance after water. Concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, and, in most cases, pebbles to increase its strength. It is used to fortify everything around us.

In this lesson, we will be learning all about concrete. We will get to know all the different materials we can add to cement to make it behave in certain ways. We will also discover the history of cement and why it has become the most popular building material. Put on your hardhats and let’s learn about concrete.

Lesson Keywords

Structural engineer: performs calculations, creates drawings, reviews the work of other engineers on construction sites, and writes reports

Hydraulics engineer: specializes in the behavior of fluids such as water and sewage and the structures that surround them

Highway engineer: designs roads and highways

Transportation engineer: involved in all things transportation, such as roads and subway systems

Hydraulic power: a network of pipes that can power devices that require mechanical power through the use of pressurized fluids

Concrete: a building material made from a mixture of pebbles or gravel, sand, cement, and water

Cement: a powdery substance made of lime and clay, mixed with water to form mortar, or mixed with sand, gravel, and water to make concrete

Admixture : the action of adding an ingredient to something else

Residential buildings: homes, houses, apartment buildings, etc.

Retail buildings: malls, shops, stores, etc.

Hospitality buildings: hotels, motels, etc.

Educational buildings: schools, colleges, universities, etc.

Industrial buildings: factories, manufacturing plants, power plants, etc.