Why are the pyramids pointy?
Pyramids are pointy because they have a wide bottom and get smaller going up.
Pip’s answer
- Pyramids are pointy because they have a wide bottom and get smaller going up.
- Being wide at the bottom makes them strong, so they don't fall down.
- People long ago stacked giant stone blocks, each layer a bit smaller.
- Ooh, the pointy tips may have looked like sunbeams shining down!
Try it together
Can you make a pointy pyramid with your hands?
For grown-ups
A wide base that narrows to a point is a very stable shape, so huge stone structures don't collapse. Ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for pharaohs, stacking giant limestone blocks in layers. Many scholars think the shape may have represented the sun's rays or a primeval mound.
Ask your child: Can you build a pyramid from blocks? What happens if the bottom is narrow?
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