Balsa Wood Bridge

Ben Blier, Ben Fisher, and Lydia Park

Washington Latin Public Charter School
5200 2nd St NW, Washington, DC 20011
Background: Design Process:
The course domains we used were
Data:
communicating within a scientific framework Figure 5: Final Bridge
because of the format of presenting our data Bridge Weight Held Strength to
and the way we analyzed the break. Another Weight Weight
domain we used was developing and using Ratio
models because our bridge modeled a
physical situation that demonstrates our 12.0 g 16 lbs 1.33
physics concepts. (Grade
We wanted to build a bridge1 that has a Record!)
strong upwards arch-shape but with only long Final Bridge Picture (Before Breaking)
straight lines and have supporting crosses
that distribute the weight to a strong triangular
shape. An image of the Pai Memorial Bridge
Conclusion:
in Thailand2 gave us the inspiration of strong Figure 2: Base Outline Figure 3: Shape Taking Form Figure 4: Final Touches ● Our objective was met because our bridge
beams on the sides and top. had a high strength to weight ratio of 1.33.
● Our bridge was well executed because our
Research Objective: joints held up and it was able to evenly
Our objective was to plan and build a bridge distribute the weight of the sand throughout
that has a high strength to weight ratio. the whole bridge.
● We changed our design because we wanted
Materials: to make the bridge lighter by not laminating
Balsa wood, wood glue, ruler, exacto knife, the base or the top. We also wanted to
stapler, wax paper, and sharpies.
Our mostly completed base
Our bridge after we began Finishing our bridge off and disperse the weight evenly by adding
working on the top of the installing the triangles on the
Design: with the new design
bridge. side. supports to the base and and an X shape in
the middle.
Figure 1: Schematic Revisions:
Design During our building process we References:
found that after working with the
wood and physically seeing the 1. Balsa wood bridge 1 [Image]. (2016, July 29).
layout of the bridge, changes had The Clicker Center
to be made to our initial design Blog.https://theclickercenterblog.com/2016/07/3
either to make the bridge lighter or 0/bridge-builders/balsa-wood-bridge-1/
to help the bridge distribute weight
more efficiently. This meant we 2. Iverson, K. (2017, March 17). Memorial Bridge
ended up not laminating any of Pai [Photograph]. culture
pieces, made the bridge slightly trip.https://theculturetrip.com/asia/thailand/article
longer, only made cross X’s in the s/
Our original approved sections at the center, and made visit-these-famous-bridges-during-your-trip-to-th
design showing the ailand/
arches, joints,
the incline on the sides one
supports, and straight 45° angle instead of 2
triangles.
more gradual inclines. Full video of breaking the bridge