Bridges

Bridges

Unit: Bridges

Big Idea: Weight and Balanced Bridges

Focus Question: How do you create a bridge stable enough to hold a lot of weight?

Hypothesis/Prediction:

-       If we stack the notecards, then the bridge will be able to hold more weight.

-       If there are more markers underneath the whole notecard, then the bridge will be more stable.

-       If the bridge has the same amount of markers on each side, then the bridge will be more stable.

Materials:

-       Markers

-       Washers (used as weights)

-       Glue (if want to glue notecards together)

Planning:

            We will create a bridge by folding and gluing notecards and placing them on the markers. After we have created the bridges we will add weight to see how much weight our bridge can hold. We will record our observations. First, we will arrange 6 markers that are evenly distributed under the notecards. Then we will add the weights. We will then test four markers. We will use more or less weights and markers depending on what we find from these two experiments.

Data:

What we used	Number of weights
Whole notecard with 6 or 4 markers evenly distributed	All of the weights we were given
Stacked notecard with 6 or 4 markers evenly distributed	All of the weights we were given
Stacked glued notecard with 6 or 4 markers evenly distributed	All of the weights we were given
Folded notecard with 6 or 4 markers evenly distributed	All of the weights we were given

            We noticed that the thicker markers would work better because they are stronger. We also noticed that the lids are more stable. The markers need to be the same size. The weight needs to be evenly distributed. The markers stand better when the lid is on the table as opposed to a soft surface. The bridge was very stable with six markers.

Claims/Evidence:

            Even if we have 4 markers, the bridge will hold the weight as long as the weights and markers are evenly distributed. The bridge would word as long as the markers and weight(s) were evenly distributed.

Conclusion/Reflection:

            I now know that the bridge has to be evenly distributed for it to work. I wonder if we just used one thick marker and a folded notecard, how many weights it would hold. I would assume that as long as it is balanced it would hold a lot. However, I think it would come to a point where the marker would not be able to support the weight.