SSAS Toothpick Bridge Building Specifications 2006

 

OVERVIEW:  The goal of this toothpick bridge building competition is to build a bridge that has the best load-to-weight ratio over a given distance using only toothpicks, glue, and string.  Students will be broken down into teams of two and three students a piece.  This is an engineering competition so you must make sure that you follow all rules and regulations to avoid disqualification.  There will be extra point awards for the following: most creative design, most thorough designers notebook, best quality of construction/use of materials, best strength to weight ratio, and strongest structure.  I will also award a prize of candy to the team with the most efficient bridge.

 

MATERIALS:

1.      Flat or round toothpicks, probably 2 to 3 boxes.

2.      Elmer’s carpenter’s glue

3.      String

4.      Scissors

5.      Ruler

6.      Construction plans made using DeltaCad software.  Plans must be submitted and approved prior to beginning construction.  (3 drawings, top, front and side)

 

CONSTRUCTION:

 

1.      Your team may build any type of bridge you would like as long as it follows the following rules.

2.      Bridge must be able to span a 12 inch opening but be less than 15 inches in length.

3.      Bridge must span on it’s own from one end to the other with no supports of any kind in the middle. 

4.      Bridge must only rest on the testing machine, it may not be attached in any way.

5.      The bridge will have a minimum width of 1.5 inches and maximum width of 3 inches.

6.      There are no height requirements.

7.      Glue is to be used only for attaching pieces to one another you may not coat your pieces with glue.

 

TESTING:

 

  1. Bridges will first be brought to the Bridge Check Station where they will be inspected, weighed and measured to ensure that they are in compliance.  If your teams’ bridge is not in compliance then your team will be given fifteen minutes to get it to comply.
  2. Teams are only allowed to make alterations if the teacher deems it necessary. 
  3. The load will be applied to the center of the bridge with additional weight being added by a person elected from the team.  The weight will be added until the bridge fails and the weights hit the ground.

 

SCORING:

 

1.  Scoring will be computed using the following efficiency formula:  (weight supported) divided by (weight of the bridge).