Heather Volmerding's List: Damien

Do your background research so that you are knowledgeable about different types of bridges: how they are constructed and the strengths and weaknesses of each type.
Select three or four different bridge types to model.
Choose the building materials to use for your model. Balsa or basswood can be obtained from local hobby shops or online. Both are lightweight and easy to work with. You can also use materials such as popsicle sticks, coffee stirrers, or toothpicks. To make fair comparisons, you should use the same scale and the same construction materials and methods for each of the bridges.
Construct your models. Pay careful attention to the glue work at joints. Allow the glue to dry fully (at least overnight) before testing your models.
Take photographs of each of your model bridges for your display board.
You might also want to weigh each bridge before testing.
Test how much weight each bridge can bear.
Place the bridge to be tested between two supports (e.g., tables, workbenches, or chairs). The bridge needs to be high enough off the ground to hang a container with weights underneath it. It is best if the container is close to the ground so it does not have far to fall when the bridge does collapse.
If you have a video camera, now is the time to start recording!
Hang a container from the bridge, and gradually add weight (e.g., metal, sand, or water) to the container.
Observe the bridge as you gradually add weight, and note any changes that you observe. Can you identify which part(s) of the bridge failed first? (Video playback can be helpful here, if you have a video camera.)
When the bridge fails, weigh the container. Record the weight that caused each bridge to collapse.
Take photographs of each of your collapsed bridges for your display board.
Which bridge type supported the most weight? Were the results what you expected? Why or why not?
If you weighed your bridges, which bridge had the greatest strength-to-weight ratio? You can calculate this by dividing the weight that just caused the bridge t