Bridge Design Challenge
by Irvin Goutcher
Bridge Design Challenge
For this design challenge, each group will build a bridge out of 200 popsicle sticks and 1 bottle of Elmer’s glue. The bridge will span a 12 inch gap between tables. After the lesson, groups will research bridges before designing and building their own.
Each group will be using strength to weight ratio to determine who has the best bridge.
Strength - How much sustained mass your bridge holds before breaking.
A rope will be tied around the middle part of your bridge and connected to a bucket/platform. The weight hanging from your bridge will be incrementally increased to determine the strength.
Weight - How much your bridge actually weighs.
Weigh your bridge on the scale before testing strength.
Lesson Plan Link/URL
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-99Wr4_5fSAfuTrC9sIEVU5OD-j0a_ovJoUmxjW…Subject Area
Science Physical Science P3: Net Force Engineering S2: Apply the Engineering Design Process S4: Apply Science to Engineering Mathematics Ratio and Proportion (RP)
Featured
Off
Related Content
Grades:
4th Grade, 5th Grade
In this hands-on lesson, students will explore how speed is calculated, what inertia is and apply it to Newton’s Laws of Motion. They use the engineering design process to construct race cars out of
Grades:
5th Grade
In this engaging lesson, students explore the forces of flight and use the Engineering Design Process to improve the flight times and distance traveled with a paper airplane. Resources are included
Featured
Sphero Rocket Payload Mission
Grades:
9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade
This lesson uses Sphero's "Rocket Payload" activity with the Outer Space Mat. The full lesson includes information on rocket payload, a Sphero coding challenge, a NASA link to read, optional questions