Bridge Building Contest

Fall 2005

The Problem. Can you build a strong bridge which: :

• is made of 3/32" square balsa wood.
• uses 48 feet or less of this wood
• will span a 13 inch opening between tables.
• derives its only support from the tops of the tables (touches only the tops of the tables).
• will support a 1 inch square steel weighing bar. The steel bar must be centered across the bridge (not along its length).
• Although the bridge may go over or under the test bar, the bottom of the bar must remain between 3 inches and 12 inches above the table at all times.

 .

Remember

• The wood may not be impregnated, coated, or altered in any other way!
• Wood may be laminated.
• Any type of glue is allowed.
• Your bridge may be as wide or narrow as you want and as high as you want.
• Your bridge cannot be over 24 grams in mass. Even a fraction of a gram more will disqualify you!
• Interested parents, rather than working on your children's bridges, you are invited to submit your own bridge.

Below is a diagram of what the weighing apparatus will look like.

Bridges are due the Monday after the Thanksgiving Day weekend.

Back