Bridge Building Bonanza Pt1!

Here are the goal and the rules for our first "Bridge Building Challenge". We will use this experience to make a more robust game to try after it.

Update: we first attempted a "toothpick" version in 5th period. Now we're attempting a "coffee stirrer" version in 6th :)

Criteria (Goal!)

• Build the bridge with the highest strength to weight ratio (most weight prior to breaking vs the weight of the design).

Constraints (5.5" Coffee Stirrer Version)

• Bridge may not weigh more than 50 grams.
• Bridge must span a 12” gap.
• Bridge must be at least one toothpick length wide.
• Bridge must be at least one toothpick length in height.
• No more than 4 stirrers parallel and touching at anyone location.
• Materials:
• Construction Materials:
• 5.5" coffee stirrers.
• Glue guns and glue.
• Fabrication materials:
• cardboard to prevent glue mess.
• Keep your workspace clean!
• Clean any messes you make!

Constraints(Toothpick version)

• Bridge may not weigh more than 50 grams.
• Bridge must span a 12” gap.
• Bridge must be at least one toothpick length wide.
• Bridge must be at least one toothpick length in height.
• No more than 8 toothpicks touching in parallel at any point.
• Materials:
• Construction Materials:
• One pack of 800 Count “Royal” toothpicks.
• Glue guns and glue
• Fabrication materials:
• cardboard and wax paper to prevent glue mess.
• graphpaper to layout design.
• Keep your workspace clean!
• Clean any messes you make!