Pasta Bridge Project Report
Pasta Bridge Project – Physics
Resources:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/bridge/
Activities (/~kuesc/expo/activities)
Competitions (/~kuesc/expo/activities/competitions)
Informational Videos (/~kuesc/expo/activities/informational-videos)
GUIDELINES:
• Teams are limited to three people.
• Only one entry per team.
• Team name, Class and Period must be represented on the bridge by a sign affixed to it or legibly marked on the bridge.
• The bridge is made ahead of time.
• Bridge must be checked in to be measured and weighed for disqualification.
Bridges that are disqualified will be broken and will receive a 35 point penalty.
• The bridge will be judged on a power factor basis.
• (Power Factor = Weight of Bridge / Weight of Sand at Failure)
• Bridges will be considered to have failed when judged to be at failure.
• Extra Credit will be awarded to the top 3 in all of the Physics classes.
Middle/High School Pasta Bridge Contest Rules
• Only store-bought pasta and White Elmers Glue may be used to make the Bridge. (No Elmers
Wood Glue)
• Must use at least 1 different type of structurally significant nonlinear pasta in addition to spaghetti, linguini, lasagna, fettuccini, or angel hair.
• Bridges must weigh between 2 and 5 lbs. (this is just to make the load testing fair)
• Bridge Dimension Limits are between 32 (thirty two) inches and 36 (thirty six) inches long, between 4 (four) and 6 (six) inches wide, and it cannot exceed 6 (six) inches high.
• If the bridge is going to have a superstructure such as a truss system above the level of the deck then the bridge must have space with dimensions of 2”x4” at the center of the bridge so the load can be applied to the center of the bridge.
• Throughout the bridge deck, no pasta piece used can exceed 4 inches in any dimension.
• The span between the tables will be approximately 30 inches.
• NO painting the bridge.
• Must include a one-page report on how each type of pasta contributes to the overall structural strength of
Resources:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/bridge/
Activities (/~kuesc/expo/activities)
Competitions (/~kuesc/expo/activities/competitions)
Informational Videos (/~kuesc/expo/activities/informational-videos)
GUIDELINES:
• Teams are limited to three people.
• Only one entry per team.
• Team name, Class and Period must be represented on the bridge by a sign affixed to it or legibly marked on the bridge.
• The bridge is made ahead of time.
• Bridge must be checked in to be measured and weighed for disqualification.
Bridges that are disqualified will be broken and will receive a 35 point penalty.
• The bridge will be judged on a power factor basis.
• (Power Factor = Weight of Bridge / Weight of Sand at Failure)
• Bridges will be considered to have failed when judged to be at failure.
• Extra Credit will be awarded to the top 3 in all of the Physics classes.
Middle/High School Pasta Bridge Contest Rules
• Only store-bought pasta and White Elmers Glue may be used to make the Bridge. (No Elmers
Wood Glue)
• Must use at least 1 different type of structurally significant nonlinear pasta in addition to spaghetti, linguini, lasagna, fettuccini, or angel hair.
• Bridges must weigh between 2 and 5 lbs. (this is just to make the load testing fair)
• Bridge Dimension Limits are between 32 (thirty two) inches and 36 (thirty six) inches long, between 4 (four) and 6 (six) inches wide, and it cannot exceed 6 (six) inches high.
• If the bridge is going to have a superstructure such as a truss system above the level of the deck then the bridge must have space with dimensions of 2”x4” at the center of the bridge so the load can be applied to the center of the bridge.
• Throughout the bridge deck, no pasta piece used can exceed 4 inches in any dimension.
• The span between the tables will be approximately 30 inches.
• NO painting the bridge.
• Must include a one-page report on how each type of pasta contributes to the overall structural strength of