Balsa Wood Bridge

Background: TJ Chandler, Reva Kelly, Josie Le Mon

II. Designing and executing investigations:
Created bridge designs based on data from other Washington Latin PCS 5200 2nd St NW
bridge structures.
Bridge Score Sheet
IV. Developing and using models:
Used schematic design to plan out our bridge design.

VI. Using the Problem Solving Process

Engineered solutions to problems by adding glue when
Design process :
joints were not strong enough.
Includes at least three photos of your building process.
Including a photo of the final product. With figure labels and
Research objective: brief descriptions with each photo
Build a bridge to obtain the maximum strength to Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4
weight ratio (holds the most weight for how much
it weighs itself), to be presented at a celebration of
science event. Bridges will be judged on design,
comparison to official design drawing, construction,
strongest and best strength to weight ratio.

Materials: Conclusion:
● 1/8th inch Balsa Wood ● Our objective was somewhat met: we
● Wood Glue built a bridge that could hold the
allotted weight, but we didn’t meet
the ideal strength to weight ratio of 1.
Schematic Design:
● Our design was accurate enough to
Our bridge’s basic
hold 11 scoops of sand; 12 pounds:
Our completed bridge. Our bridge on breaking
structure pieces
day,
our bridge weighed 13.9 grams, with
a strength to weight ratio of 0.8.
● Our original design was mostly
successfully recreated, except for
minor alterations with the angles of
our interior wood pieces being
slightly off.

Acknowledgements/ References:
https://sites.google.com/site/ryangeorgeen
gineering/balsa-wood-bridge