Strongest Bridge Project
Part 1 - Research
1) Order these shapes from weakest to strongest.
a. Mention why you ordered them this way by showing how
compression/tension forces work on each shape when an external
force presses them down from the top or from the bottom.
b. Mention how bigger/smaller/right angles within each shape make it
stronger or weaker and why.
c. Mention any other facts that make the shapes stronger/weaker.
Arch
Rectangle
Parallelogram
Triangle
Hexagon
Honeycomb structure
**Hint** – read and watch videos on these websites and find some info you
need to answer the above question.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/lab/shapes.html
http://www.rogersconnection.com/triangles/
http://www.mathsinthecity.com/sites/most-stable-shape-triangle
- Make a dome-like structure from these shapes and see which
structure is able to withstand the most amount of weight. Go to the multimedia section of this website to get specific instructions:
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.mfw.lp_shapes/s
hapes-that-make-structures-strong/
2) What type of rectangles are stronger – long and skinny OR short and fat?
Why?
3) What are the 4 types of bridges?
a. Describe each of them in 2 sentences.
b. Insert a picture for each.
c. Show how forces (compression and tension) act on them to prevent
them from breaking.
**Hint** – read this website
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/bridge/basics.html#susp and find the
information you need to answer the above question.
Engineering & Bridges
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBP7739C83s
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBOGRxV49MQ
Part 2 – Brainstorming
Please answer the following questions. Keep in mind the main purpose of this
project is to make the STRONGEST possible bridge out of pasta. Make sure you
know what the front, back and birds-eye-views of the bridge are. Check with
teacher if you don’t.
1- What kind of bridge you want to build?
2- What polygons would the fettuccini make on the front and back view of the
bridge and how would this make the bridge stronger?
3- How big will the fettuccini polygons be on the front and back view of the
bridge? What will be the advantage of having the polygons be that big?
4- How many polygons will there be on the front and back view of the bridge?
What will be the advantage of having that many polygons?
5- How will the fettuccini be arranged on the road? How will this arrangement
make the bridge stronger?
6- Will we see any polygons or design by examining the birds-eye-view of the
bridge?
Part 3 – Making the blueprint
Please make sure, you use the following restrictions in building your actual bridge:
Length 60 cm
Height 15 cm
Width 10 cm
Note: The bridge will be built on top of 2 tables - you cannot build below them.
Make your blueprint with pencil on graph paper.
On your blueprint you will need to:
-
Come up with a reasonable scale.
Calculate the measurements of your bridge in your blueprint using your
scale.
Mention the scale on your blueprint.
Use pencil and a ruler to draw your blueprint.