Bridge Busting 2017

Science club did their annual bridge busting experiment. Unlike previous years where we focused on increasing the live load the bridge could support, the challenge this year was to use only popsicle sticks and card stock to span the greatest distance between two tables. At first, it proved quite frustrating but eventually, the kids discovered the secrets of rolling and folding paper to add strength. Throughout the four week study, we looked at different types of bridges such as plank, truss and trestle bridges. Suspension bridges such as the Brooklyn Bridge held the most interest, however, and we spent a whole class on stories about the Brooklyn Bridge in particular. Eventually, we meandered back to forces that act on bridges such as torsion, sheer and compression. The day school elementary class will look again at bridges as part of the Great River projects that will start up after Science Fair on March 6th.