0:00:05 > 0:00:08# If you've got a question And you don't know where to go
0:00:08 > 0:00:11# Ask Nina for some help Cos she's got a science show
0:00:11 > 0:00:14# She makes sense of our senses While helping all her fans
0:00:14 > 0:00:17# By doing her experiments With potions and with bangs
0:00:17 > 0:00:19- # Touch your tongue - Tongue
0:00:19 > 0:00:20- # Fingers - Fingers
0:00:20 > 0:00:22- # Eyes- Eyes - Ears- Ears
0:00:22 > 0:00:23- # Nose- Nose
0:00:23 > 0:00:26# Nina and the Neurons find out what you need to know
0:00:26 > 0:00:29# Nina and the Neurons find out what you need to know
0:00:29 > 0:00:32# Luke he helps us with our eyes And Felix with our touch
0:00:32 > 0:00:36# Ollie sniffs out smells and scents And Belle she hears so much
0:00:36 > 0:00:38# Bud is Ollie's brother He helps us with our taste
0:00:38 > 0:00:41# They're Nina's little Neurons And they're coming to your place
0:00:41 > 0:00:43- # Touch your tongue - Tongue
0:00:43 > 0:00:44- # Fingers- Fingers
0:00:44 > 0:00:46- # Eyes- Eyes - Ears- Ears
0:00:46 > 0:00:47- # Nose- Nose
0:00:47 > 0:00:50- # Nina and the Neurons find out what you need to know- Yeah!
0:00:50 > 0:00:53# Nina and the Neurons find out what you need to know
0:00:53 > 0:00:55# Oh, yeah! #
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Ah, that looks good!
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Oh, hello! I'm just making the walls of a house
0:01:01 > 0:01:06and I'm trying to make them as colourful as possible.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08BEEPING
0:01:08 > 0:01:12I hear a beep, I see a flash, I wonder what they're going to ask.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19- BOTH: Hi, Nina!- Hi!
0:01:19 > 0:01:22We've got a question for you.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24How are houses built?
0:01:24 > 0:01:28Oh, that's a great question! How are houses built?
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Well, lots of people live in houses, but how are they built?
0:01:32 > 0:01:35Come down to my workshop and we'll investigate.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38BOTH: See you soon, Nina! Bye!
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Bye!
0:01:40 > 0:01:43Well, I'm going to need some help to answer this one
0:01:43 > 0:01:45and I know just who to ask.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48OK, Neurons, time to get to work.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06ALL: Neurons at the ready, Nina!
0:02:06 > 0:02:09OK. Today's question is how are houses built?
0:02:09 > 0:02:15Which Neuron will be most useful in helping us find the answer?
0:02:15 > 0:02:17- It's Luke! - CHEERING
0:02:17 > 0:02:21ALL: Go, Luke! Go, Luke! Go, Luke!
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Go, Luke! Go, Luke! Go, Luke!
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Cool, Nina! I'll be looking out to help you.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32Today's question is how are houses built?
0:02:32 > 0:02:35As we see lots of different houses all around us,
0:02:35 > 0:02:37Luke will be helping us today.
0:02:37 > 0:02:38But stand by, Neurons,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41I've a feeling I may need help from all of you.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45I need to get the workshop ready before the experimenters arrive.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49Nathan likes jam sandwiches.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52John loves pizza.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56But they both want to know, how are houses built?
0:02:56 > 0:02:58So today, for one day only,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Nathan and John become
0:03:01 > 0:03:04the experimenters!
0:03:08 > 0:03:11- Hi, guys!- BOTH: Hi, Nina!
0:03:11 > 0:03:15Welcome to my workshop and thank you for your great question,
0:03:15 > 0:03:16how are houses built?
0:03:16 > 0:03:20Well, people live in all sorts of houses - big houses,
0:03:20 > 0:03:24small houses, and in flats built on top of each other.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28But what are most houses made of, experimenters?
0:03:28 > 0:03:29Bricks.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33That's right. And I've got two kinds of bricks over there.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38Now, most new houses are built with two walls that are close together.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41There's an outer wall and an inner wall.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44The outer wall is made with those orangey bricks,
0:03:44 > 0:03:46and they're made of hard clay.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50And the inner wall is often built with those grey bricks,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53that are made of concrete and are very strong.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56I think outer bricks look cooler, Nina.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00- Now, what do builders put in between bricks?- Cement.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Yes, it's actually cement mixed with sand and water
0:04:04 > 0:04:07to make something called mortar.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09Go, mortar! Go, mortar!
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Mortar's a bit like the glue that holds the bricks together.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16To find out more about how we use bricks to build a house,
0:04:16 > 0:04:18let's do an experiment.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20ALL: Whoop-whoop! An experiment!
0:04:20 > 0:04:22We're ready, Nina.
0:04:22 > 0:04:27We've got two walls here, both built with mini bricks and mortar.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29They have different brick patterns.
0:04:29 > 0:04:34John, on your wall here the bricks are lined up on top of each other.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37And Nathan, on your wall the bricks are staggered.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41Now, which brick pattern do you think will be better
0:04:41 > 0:04:43- for our strong inner wall? - Mine.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Well, let's see.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50OK. So I'd like you to put some weight on top of the walls.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Oh, that's good.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56OK. Stop there, experimenters.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Let's have a look.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Now, what's happened to the wall with the lined-up bricks?
0:05:01 > 0:05:04It's cracked.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Yes. The mortar between the bricks has cracked!
0:05:07 > 0:05:11- What about the staggered brick wall? - No cracks.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14That's because although bricks are very hard
0:05:14 > 0:05:18and good at holding things up, mortar isn't as strong.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22The wall with the lined-up bricks has mortar in a straight line too,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24so when there's weight put on top
0:05:24 > 0:05:27the mortar isn't strong enough, and it cracks.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31But in the wall with the staggered bricks, the weight is spread out
0:05:31 > 0:05:34between the two bricks underneath.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38The mortar doesn't have to take all the weight, so it doesn't crack
0:05:38 > 0:05:40and the wall stays nice and strong.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43So most houses have an inner wall and an outer wall.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Using a staggered brick pattern makes the wall stronger.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49That's right, Neurons.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51But - what else does a house need?
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Windows and doors.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55You're right.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59But how do builders make a hole in the wall for windows and doors?
0:05:59 > 0:06:02I think we need to do another experiment.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05So far we've discovered that staggered bricks make
0:06:05 > 0:06:09a stronger wall, and we are going to build a wall of our very own.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13Oh - and we must remember to leave a hole for the door.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15- So are you ready?- Yes!- Yes!
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Excellent. Let's get building!
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Right on there...
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Oh-hoo-hoo!
0:06:33 > 0:06:34Ooh...
0:06:34 > 0:06:37That tower doesn't look very wide, Nina.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Oh, experimenters, I think we have a problem.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44- Is there enough room in that door for us to get through?- BOTH: No!
0:06:44 > 0:06:47You're right. Why can't we make it bigger?
0:06:47 > 0:06:49- The bricks would fall down, Nina. - Exactly!
0:06:49 > 0:06:53We could only make the hole for the door one brick wide,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55or the bricks would fall down.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59We need something to hold the bricks up.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03This time, we're going to use this beam and put it above the door,
0:07:03 > 0:07:05and see what happens. Let's get to it!
0:07:10 > 0:07:12OK. Time for the beam.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Brilliant work, experimenters!
0:07:23 > 0:07:28- So - is the door wide enough for us to get through now?- BOTH: Yes!
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Well, why don't you have a try?
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Hey-hey! No bother at all!
0:07:37 > 0:07:41So the beam is holding up the bricks so we can make the door much wider.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Real houses have beams like this too, above windows and doors,
0:07:45 > 0:07:47and they're called lintels.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49Lentils! I love lentil soup!
0:07:49 > 0:07:53Lintels, Bud, not lentils!
0:07:53 > 0:07:56You're right, Luke, it IS lintels.
0:07:56 > 0:08:01So lintels are beams that hold up the bricks above windows and doors.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Thanks, Felix!
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Does it hold up the roof, Nina?
0:08:05 > 0:08:07That's a great question!
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Well, lintels can hold up heavy bricks,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12but a roof is really big and heavy.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15And I know somewhere upside down that we can find out.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25Here we go! I can't wait to see where we'll end up today.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Nina said it was upside down.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Bats hang upside down. Maybe we're going to see some bats.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35I love bats!
0:08:35 > 0:08:39I don't think we'll see any bats, but it's definitely upside down.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43So, your question was how are houses built?
0:08:43 > 0:08:45And so far we've discovered
0:08:45 > 0:08:49that lintels hold up the bricks above windows and doors.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52But now we want to find out how roofs and floors stay up.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55So we've come to Szymbark in Poland
0:08:55 > 0:08:59to see this amazing special house, which is upside down!
0:08:59 > 0:09:02So let's go exploring, experimenters.
0:09:28 > 0:09:29Take a look at this house.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Can you see what's holding up the floors and the roof?
0:09:33 > 0:09:37- Walls.- Yes, some of the walls are holding up the weight of the house,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39and we call them load-bearing walls.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43Load-bearing walls. They sound strong.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46But not all walls hold up the weight of the house -
0:09:46 > 0:09:49some are load-bearing and some are not.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52When people do building work they have to be careful
0:09:52 > 0:09:56they don't remove a load-bearing wall, so the house stays strong.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59How can they tell, Nina?
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Well, it's quite hard to spot a load-bearing wall,
0:10:02 > 0:10:04but one way is to see if the wall goes
0:10:04 > 0:10:08from the bottom of the house all the way up to the top -
0:10:08 > 0:10:11then it's usually a load-bearing wall.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14So it doesn't matter what way up your house is,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17you still need load-bearing walls.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20If you live in an ordinary house, then the load-bearing walls
0:10:20 > 0:10:24hold up the floors and the roof, but if it's an upside-down house
0:10:24 > 0:10:28- then the load-bearing walls hold up the...- Floors!
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Yeah!
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Let's have some fun looking round the upside-down house,
0:10:33 > 0:10:37and we can look and see where we think the load-bearing walls are.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41On this drawing, that looks like the upside-down house,
0:10:41 > 0:10:45we'll mark the walls that go from the bottom to the top in red
0:10:45 > 0:10:48and we'll mark the other walls in blue. So let's go!
0:11:11 > 0:11:13Great job, experimenters.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16The walls in red go all the way from the top to the bottom,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19so we think that they are load-bearing walls
0:11:19 > 0:11:22and hold up the weight of the house.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25The blue walls don't go all the way from the top to the bottom,
0:11:25 > 0:11:29so we don't think they're load-bearing walls, so they
0:11:29 > 0:11:33don't hold any weight. It doesn't matter which way up your house is,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35you still need load-bearing walls.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39# Nina and the Neurons. #
0:11:39 > 0:11:44Your question was, how are houses built? I think we've answered it.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Most new houses have inner walls and outer walls.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52Walls are built in staggered brick patterns to make them strong.
0:11:52 > 0:11:57Beams called lintels hold up the bricks above windows and doors.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01Walls that go all the way from the bottom to the top of the house
0:12:01 > 0:12:03are usually load-bearing.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06And they hold up the floors and the roof.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08So I hope that's answered your question.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11BOTH: Thanks, Nina! Bye!
0:12:11 > 0:12:13You're welcome. Bye!
0:12:16 > 0:12:19If you want to know more about the science all around us,
0:12:19 > 0:12:23go to the Nina section on the CBeebies website. Have fun!
0:12:23 > 0:12:27# Super structures Super structures
0:12:27 > 0:12:31# Super structures, super structures super structures
0:12:31 > 0:12:34# Some of them are tall Some of them are wide
0:12:34 > 0:12:37# They're bumpy, lumpy Wiggly too
0:12:37 > 0:12:39# Wiggly too
0:12:39 > 0:12:42# Some of them are strong Some of them are small
0:12:42 > 0:12:43# Like me!
0:12:43 > 0:12:45# They're windy, whirly Whooshy too
0:12:45 > 0:12:47# All around
0:12:47 > 0:12:49# Look over here
0:12:49 > 0:12:53# Build it, stack it Pile it up
0:12:53 > 0:12:55# Come on, let's get building!
0:12:55 > 0:12:57- # Building- Building- Building
0:12:57 > 0:13:01# Race it, hold it Make it stick
0:13:01 > 0:13:04# Come on, let's get building
0:13:04 > 0:13:05# Weee-ooh
0:13:05 > 0:13:08# Come on, let's get building
0:13:11 > 0:13:15# Some of them are cosy warm Some of them are chilly
0:13:15 > 0:13:17# Keep us safe and hide us too
0:13:17 > 0:13:19# Hide us too
0:13:19 > 0:13:22# Some of them are just for fun Or help us to stay dry
0:13:22 > 0:13:25# They're underground and high up too
0:13:25 > 0:13:29# Look around Over here
0:13:29 > 0:13:33# Build it, stack it Pile it up
0:13:33 > 0:13:35# Come on, let's get building
0:13:35 > 0:13:37- # Building- Building- Building
0:13:37 > 0:13:41# Race it, hold it Make it stick
0:13:41 > 0:13:43# Come on, let's get building
0:13:43 > 0:13:45# Weee-ooh
0:13:45 > 0:13:48# Come on, let's get building! #
0:13:50 > 0:13:53And remember - there are super structures everywhere.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Whether they're big or small, wide or tall, we can all get building.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59See you again soon. Bye!
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- ALL: Bye!- Get building!