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Science Lab project
Build and break a bridge
Design, build and load-test three paper bridge shapes, then explain the winner with forces.
120 min totalScienceMathsDesign & Technology
Steps
- 1Build a beam, an arch and a truss from the same amount of paper
- 2Load each one until it fails, recording mass at failure
- 3Plot the results and identify the fair-test problems
- 4Explain the winner using compression, tension and turning forces
Skills and objectives demonstrated
- Describe balanced and unbalanced forces
- Present data in an appropriate graph or chart