POPSICLE BRIDGE PROJECT

SUPPLIES & REQUIREMENTS

• 200 popsicle sticks
• Elmer's School Glue
• Span 36 inches
• Minimum width 5 inches
• Maximum height 6 inches

Objective
The objective was to build a bridge meeting all requirements that can hold up to 100 pounds or more without damage or destruction from weight.

Problem:
How can we design a bridge that can hold many objects and a lot of weight without damage or destruction?

Stress
Compressive stress- stress caused by pushing together
Tensil stress-stress caused by pulling apart
Strain- deformation

What are solutions that engineers have determined to deal with the types of stresses?
Stress is very important because it can cause your entire bridge to collapse. That is why engineers have so many problems with different types of stress.

Which bridge type did your group determine was the best style for your situation? The suspension bridge was our inspiration for our design because it holds a lot of weight and is very stable. This design can also be called a truss bridge.

Question: How much weight did your bridge hold?
Answer: Our bridge held
5 pounds before collapsing.

Why do you think it held so much or so little?
I think our bridge held so little because it needed to become sturdier with more sticks if provided
and improvments.

Which advice would you give a fellow 6th grade magnet student who will create their bridge next year?
We would advise them to make sure the bridge isn't crooked and all the glue is dry before testing. Wet glue will cause their bridge to break and not stick together.

If you were given 200 more sticks what improvements or redesigns would you make and why?
Our group would add more sticks to the bottom, the top, and triangles. These improvments would make the bridge sturdier.

Makayla and Alyssa working hard.