Name: ________________________________________________________________Period ________
Earthquake Bridge Challenge
Go to the following website: http://www.eduweb.com/portfolio/bridgetoclassroom/engineeringfull.html
Or go to my website, link library, geology, earthquake simulation.
List three different types of bridges you would like to try and why
1._________________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________________
Build your bridge of all the same structure such as steel arch. (Do all three segments the same). Then choose your
safety features. List the safety features in bridge one and tell how well it withstood a 5.0, 7.0 and 9.0 earthquakes.
Then change the safety feature to the same bridge. List that same information again. Then change the safety
features on bridge three and repeat. For bridges 4 through 6, choose a different style of bridge and repeat the
information from the previous step. For bridges 7 through 9, chose a third style of bridge and repeat.
Bridge 1
Bridge 2
Bridge 3
Bridge 4
Bridge 5
Bridge 6
Bridge 7
Bridge 8
Bridge 9
ANALYSIS QUESTIONS:
1. What force did the bridges have to overcome? Explain.
2. What strategies were used to strengthen the bridges?
3. Which style bridge held up the best and why?
4. Which safety features withstood the force of the earthquake the longest and why?
5. Write a paragraph about what you learned in this activity
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Analyze Data:
6. Using one of the structures or safety features. above create a claim that is written in a complete sentence. Then
provide three pieces of evidence to support the claim. This should relate back to the success or failure of that
technique in building your bridge.
Claim
Evidence
1.
2.
3.
Record your conclusions:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________