STEM Night 2 Toothpick Bridge
Dates: March 11, 2015
Challenge: Create a bridge out of wooden toothpicks and white glue that can support at least 30 times its own mass.
Constraints:
1. The base of the bridge cannot be more than 50cm. The desks will be 30cm apart.
2. The span of the bridge cannot be more than 15cm.
3. The bridge base must have an accessible 4cm*4cm hole in the middle to put a block with hook on.
4. No part of the bridge can be below the desk.
5. The only materials allowed are toothpicks and white glue.
6. This is an individual project!
Assignments:
1. Research bridge design and development. Write an abstract (1 page 3rd person summary) that details the type of bridge that you are going to build. Include the design advantages and disadvantages as well as some famous bridges of that type. (Due January 16th)
2. Write a 2 paragraph essay about what forces are exerted on a bridge and how the forces are distributed. (Due February 13th)
3. Draw a to-scale blueprint on graph paper. (Due March 4th)
4. Final Bridge made of toothpicks (Due March 11th)
After the bridge testing day answer the following questions (Due March 13th)
1. What worked well with your bridge?
2. What would you modify about your bridge?
3. Identify what caused your bridge to ultimately break.
4. If you were going to rebuild the bridge what would you do to redesign?
5. What design worked best in your block of time and why?
Dates: March 11, 2015
Challenge: Create a bridge out of wooden toothpicks and white glue that can support at least 30 times its own mass.
Constraints:
1. The base of the bridge cannot be more than 50cm. The desks will be 30cm apart.
2. The span of the bridge cannot be more than 15cm.
3. The bridge base must have an accessible 4cm*4cm hole in the middle to put a block with hook on.
4. No part of the bridge can be below the desk.
5. The only materials allowed are toothpicks and white glue.
6. This is an individual project!
Assignments:
1. Research bridge design and development. Write an abstract (1 page 3rd person summary) that details the type of bridge that you are going to build. Include the design advantages and disadvantages as well as some famous bridges of that type. (Due January 16th)
2. Write a 2 paragraph essay about what forces are exerted on a bridge and how the forces are distributed. (Due February 13th)
3. Draw a to-scale blueprint on graph paper. (Due March 4th)
4. Final Bridge made of toothpicks (Due March 11th)
After the bridge testing day answer the following questions (Due March 13th)
1. What worked well with your bridge?
2. What would you modify about your bridge?
3. Identify what caused your bridge to ultimately break.
4. If you were going to rebuild the bridge what would you do to redesign?
5. What design worked best in your block of time and why?