Balsa Bridge Building Contest

Facts and Figures

Years:.......................... 35 Students:....................... typically > 60 Number of bridges:.............. >35 (per year) Female winners:................. five times Male winners:................... too many

Longest standing record:........ about five years Average bridge strength:........ supports 56 kg Strongest bridge:............... 273.55 kg Typical design:................. A-frame with split king post design Two competitions:............... strongest bridge, best bridge Typical glue:................... aliphatic resin Typical bridge cost:............ $15

Typical blood letting:.......... about two students per year David Letterman specials:....... about 15% Really serious entries:......... about 75% Pcntge believing they will win:. >75% Physics 12 particip. rate at ND: 20%

Corporate involvement:.......... Hobby Stores, APEGBC, Universities, Engineering Firms Prizes:......................... trophies, plaques, cash Nightmare scenario:............. drought in Brazil/Ecuador/Peru Nightmare scenario #2:.......... truckers' strike in US

Good advice:.................... notify hobby shops well in advance More good advice:............... students see, touch, previous bridges Even more advice:............... restrict teams to two members Female Ph 12 enrollment:........ 20-30% Judging/Testing:................ largely student-run Rules:.......................... only minor clarifications in 21 years

Student feedback:............... overwhelmingly positive Competitions on the road:....... twice, PNE, Science World Testing method:................. brute force, 10-30 minutes per bridge Time needed to test:............ about ten hours Parental feedback:.............. terrific Testing equipment:.............. cheap, plus scale from nurse's office Hang-up to overcome:............ design copying.  Why not?  Engineers do it! Support materials:.............. slides, photos, videos, web site

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Copyright 1980--2015 Peter L. Vogel