Assumption Middle-SchoolPopsicle-Stick Bridge Project

June 2020

Popsicle-Stick Bridge Learning Objectives

Math Used:✓ Measuring✓ Decimals; +, -, x and ✓ Unit Conversion✓ Averaging✓ Percent Difference✓ Ratio✓ Order of Operations✓ Negative Numbers✓ Predicting/Extrapolation

➢ Learn how math and science can be applied to planning and construction.➢ Learn about engineering design.➢ Learn about problem solving.➢ Learn about basic bridge structural design.

Popsicle-Stick Bridge Project Overview

Students in this activity will:

➢ Plan, design, build, test & evaluate their bridges.

➢ Evaluate the effectiveness of their bridge design and construction todetermine which student’s bridge best achieves project objectives.

➢ Build bridges made with a goal of 100 Popsicle-sticks & glue.

➢ Build bridges that meet stated specifications.

➢ Build bridges constructed to maximize their weight bearing capacity.

➢ Be encouraged to use the fewest number of Popsicle-sticks while still successfully satisfying bridge specifications.

Bridge Specifications – The Bridge Must

➢ The goal is to use 100 Popsicle-sticks or less. More may be used but, with a 1-point penalty for each Popsicle-stick over 100.

➢ Be at least 17 inches (44.8 cm) long.➢ Be at least 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) wide.➢ Be constructed only using Popsicle-sticks & glue provided.➢ Be constructed with whole Popsicle-sticks, no cutting of popsicle-sticks.➢ Provide a safe transit for a self-propelled toy car.➢ Be able to support minimal test weight of ten (10) lbs for 30 seconds.➢ Be able to pass an incremental weight to maximum load evaluation.➢ Be neat, well-assembled and aesthetically appealing.

Planning and Designing Your Bridge

➢ Predict how many Popsicle-sticks you think you will use?➢ Predict how much your finished bridge will weigh (lbs, oz, kg & gm)?➢ Predict how much weight (lbs, oz, kg & gm) your bridge will hold?➢ To help you with your math calculations.➢ To help determine the difference between predicted and actual values.➢ To RECORD your data.

➢ Discuss with partner how the bridge should be built to meet specifications.

➢ What geometric shape do you want to use for supporting structure?

➢ Develop and agree on a bridge design.

➢ Use student worksheet to help:

➢ Recommend laying out Popsicle-sticks before gluing.

➢ Discuss what might not work and how you can fix.

Basic Bridge Structural Design References

6 main types of bridges: ➢ Arch➢ Beam➢ Cable-stay➢ Cantilever➢ Suspension➢ Truss

Popsicle-sticks Building a Strong Bridge On-line References:➢ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QheSSHUbPeE (2:49 min)

➢ http://www.garrettsbridges.com

➢ https://www.garrettsbridges.com/category/photos/popsicle-bridges/page/2/

Construct Your Bridge

Once your design approach is complete, collect building materials:

Start bridge construction.

➢ Get material storage bag and put team name on it.

➢ Collect Popsicle-sticks.

➢ Collect glue.

➢ Collect clothes-pins to use as clamps.

➢ Be sure to put paper on construction area to avoid getting glue all over!!

Test Your Bridge

➢ Bridge is able to support minimal test weight of ten (10) lbs. for 30 secs.

Once you have completed construction verify:

➢ Bridge is at least 17 inches (44.8 cm) long.

➢ Bridge is at least 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) wide.

➢ Quantity of Popsicle-sticks used.

➢ Bridge provides a safe path for a self-propelled vehicle to cross.

➢ Click here to see how it is done video.

➢ Bridge appears neat, well-assembled and aesthetically appealing.

Bridge Final Evaluation

➢ Determine the WINNERS!!

➢ Completed Planning and Evaluation worksheet.

➢ Completed Design/Aesthetic ballot.

➢ Conduct final self-propelled toy car travel run.

➢ Conduct maximum weight capacity test.

Bridge Final Evaluation Criteria

Student WorksheetFront Back

Bridge Design Efficiency

Typical Automobile Weighs ≈ 3,500 lbs

Concrete & Metal Bridge Weighs ≈ 10,000 lbs Wooden Bridge

Weighs ≈ 2,000 lbsBoth support the safe passage of the automobile

Which bridge makes the most efficient use of the construction material?3,500 lbs

10,000 lbs= 0.35

Efficiency is the measure of how well something does what it’s expected to do.

Questions to consider when determining product efficiency:

➢ Do all the parts contribute to the product’s intended purpose?➢ How well does your design satisfy product specifications?➢ Does your design produce the expected results at the least cost?

Bridge Weight Support Efficiency Example:

Weight Supported

Total Bridge Weight Bridge Design Efficiency =

3,500 lbs2,000 lbs

= 1.75

Percent Difference – a mathematical way to compare or measure the difference between two things.

Percent Difference = ((2nd Measure – 1st Measure) 1st Measure) x 100

Percent Difference – Comparing Two Things

As an example – Lets compare the 2 squares. ➢ The red square is larger than the blue square

but, by how much?➢ Percent Difference gives us a quantitative

measure.➢ If (+), it got bigger.➢ If (-), it got smaller.

Small (Blue) → Large (Red) Percent Difference is Positive (+)

Percent Difference = ((2nd Measure – 1st Measure) 1st Measure) x 100

Percent Difference = ((16 sq.in. – 4 sq.in.) 4 sq.in.) x 100

Percent Difference = (12 sq.in. 4 sq.in.) x 100

Percent Difference = 3 x 100 = +300% - it got larger

Large (Red) → Small (Blue) Percent Difference is Negative (-)

Percent Difference = ((2nd Measure – 1st Measure) 1st Measure) x 100

Percent Difference = ((4 sq.in. – 16 sq.in.) 4 sq.in.) x 100

Percent Difference = (-12 sq.in. 4 sq.in.) x 100

Percent Difference = -3 x 100 = -300% - it got smaller

Common Past Student Lessons Learned

➢ Check and double-check measurements and calculations.

➢ Think before doing!!

➢ Don’t WASTE; Only 1 bottle of glue per team.

➢ Not all popsicle-sticks are the same, take average.

➢ Learn from your mistakes.

➢ One mistake can be very costly!!

➢ Don’t give-up hope! Not over until it is over.

➢ Pay attention to details!

➢ Do worksheet as you go.

➢ Simplicity is the way to go.

➢ Every point matters;1st place=135 pts., 2nd place=134 pts. & 3rd place=130 pts. Out of 180 points.

Let’s Get Started

➢ 8th Grade Request…. Can this count as a grade?

➢ Questions?

➢ Yes! 1-Science and 1-Math Quiz Grade, but…

❖ Requires you to accurately record data & completestudent worksheets

➢ Have fun!!

Just a Reminder !!

Be Sure Before Gluing Popsicle-Sticks Not All The Same