Name______Date______Period ______
PART 2 COMPUTER LAB for Structures (TOOTHPICK BRIDGES)
A. Download West Point Bridge Designer http://bridgecontest.usma.edu/ if it is not already on the computer. ANY version from any year is fine. If this will not work at school ;-( please do at home.
· Design a bridge as MUCH like a toothpick bridge as possible. (NOT a suspension bridge, or a bridge with piers touching the ground.)
· See how efficient (inexpensive) you can make it!
· If answering on a computer, PLEASE put your answers in BLACK Arial or Times New Roman. Thanks!
1. PRINTOUT of one of your own designs from West Point Bridge Designer (WPBD 2012 or most recent available; older version ok) if you have not already.
· This should be one that will help you start building your toothpick bridge.
· KEEP UP WITH THIS, as you will TURN IT IN the day you turn in your analysis sheets with you toothpick bridge. If you cannot do it from school, please do it from home!!
2. Answer all questions on the WebQuest Worksheet “Exploration: BRIDGES” and turn it in if you have not already.
B. Go to http://vevansphysics.wikispaces.com/bridges and explore the BRIDGE LINKS at the bottom of page to get the answers to the following questions. If you still cannot find them, do a Google search. J
1) These are specifically about building TOOTHPICK BRIDGES. What’s the most simple type of bridge?
______
2) What are some of the pros and cons of using an arch in a design?
3) What are some of the specific pros of a truss?
4) Explain I-beams. DRAW one horizontally, and label where each of the following would be: Load, Compression, and Tension.
C. Go to Nova Suspension Bridge http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bridge/meetsusp.html and answer the following. You will need to look at “Why the Bridges Failed.”
1) Why do most scientists think the Tacoma Narrows Bridge failed?
o ______
2) When it was built, how many bridges were longer than the Tacoma Narrows Bridge?
o ______
3) How fast was the wind blowing when the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed?
o ______
4) What kinds of tests do they do on bridges so they won't collapse like the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge did?
o ______
· Find the video clips section on the page. Click on video clip and watch the warping of the bridge before it collapsed.
5) There was something on the bridge in the last shot of the video clip. What was it? ______
6) Click on Figure 9 to make the photo larger. What does it show? ______
D. Explore the site http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bridge/ from NOVA Build A Bridge.
Click on the Build a Bridge link which takes you to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bridge/build.html
***Carefully go through Steps 1 and 2 BEFORE trying the GAME in Step 3.
· Sketch and name the 3 basic truss types shown at http://pghbridges.com/basics.htm ; LABEL WHERE on these 3 shapes you have the most tension, and WHERE you have the most compression.
· Also look at: http://42explore.com/bridge.htm and http://www.highlandsnj.us/BridgeUpdates/AboutBridges/BridgeBasics.html
· See some of the other MANY trusses at http://www.ufpi.com/product/rooftrusses/types.htm
E. Explore the following site http://nisee.berkeley.edu/godden/ on Earthquakes and Engineering. Compare the shapes and structures in both bridges and buildings.
F. Explore the following site http://www.mrdbridges.com/engineering.php What did you learn?
G. Then look at photos of toothpick bridges. Good site: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=toothpick+bridges Describe some of the best ones, or one that you might try to build.
WHEN you have finished all of this, you may choose to use your time WISELY and look up more bridge information, or you may do some other appropriately educational computer stuff. PLEASE stay off the games, music, etc.! HowStuffWorks.com is a great site, has lots of good bridge stuff, and information on almost anything you can think of. Of course you can keep working with West Point Bridge Designer, too.
BONUS: Did you find any great bridge sites? For extra credit, please copy and paste links here and tell me a bit about why they are great.
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