Have you ever driven over a bridge and wondered how they are able to hold their shape? In this experiment, experience what it feels like to be an engineer and learn how to construct a bridge of your own!
Materials:
Printer paper, two big books or two boxes of the same size, about 30 coins, tape
Time Estimated:
20 minutes
Directions:
First, lay your two books about 10 inches apart from each other. Then, lay a single sheet of paper across the books to create your first bridge!
Now, add a single coin on top of your bridge. Keep adding more until the bridge is no longer able to hold them!
Now it’s time to get creative! Using your paper and tape, construct a super strong bridge of your own design. You can fold, roll, or even just stack the paper together.
Once you are done, it is time to test your structure with the coins!
Think Like A Scientist!
What changes did you make to your bridge and why do you think those changes made it stronger?
What shape do you think provides the best support for building bridges?
How Does It Work?
Congratulations engineers! In this experiment, you were able to construct your very own bridge!
What exactly is a bridge and why are they so strong? Well, a bridge is any structure that allows transport across an obstacle, and it is up to engineers to figure out how to build them in order for them to carry so much weight! Because of this, bridges need to be made of super-strong materials like iron or steel.
There are a lot of different types of bridges! For example, the most simple type of bridge is called a beam bridge. This type of bridge is simply a horizontal beam that is supported at each end. However, these types of bridges are not able to carry as much weight as other bridges. Now, can you think of what is able to make a bridge so strong, other than just the material it is made of? If you guessed its shape and structure, you are correct!
One very common type of bridge is called a suspension bridge. An example of this would be the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California! With these types of bridges, a force called tension is very important. Tension is a term used to describe what happens when something is pulled tight. Suspension bridges are made so that the deck of the bridge is hung by cables or wires that are distributed across the length of the bridge. These cables are anchored to each side of the bridge and are supported by large poles. When weight is added to the bridge, tension is added to the cables, which then pull down on the poles as well as the anchors of the bridge. This creates a force that allows the deck to be held up in place and distributes the weight across it!
Additionally, one great shape for building bridges is a triangle! Triangles are really sturdy when it comes to distributing weight because when you apply force to one point of a triangle, the force is shared between the two sides that are right next to that point. This is why most bridges you see have a large number of triangles built into them; instead of applying weight to one spot on the bridge, the triangles allow the weight to be spread out. So, the next time you cross a bridge, try to count how many triangles you can spot and remember how important they are to the engineering process!
Further Exploration:
In today’s busy world, bridges are super important! They help us get from one place to another so that we are able to get to work or school on time! They also help us to transport things between different cities, states, and regions. One major example of why bridges are so important is because they allow for the transportation of food and other essential products. It may not seem like a big deal, but there are a lot of obstacles when it comes to transporting food from farm to table, and bridges allow us to get around many of those obstacles!
Looking for more fun at-home STEM activities for your young scientist? Check out our workbook full of exciting science experiments and empowering activities!
