Millburn High School

34th Annual Bridge-Building Competition 2024

If you are a physics student you MUST create your own bridge. It is recommended that you collaborate with others,
share ideas, test and retest, but you must make YOUR OWN Bridge. If your parents wish to be involved, they are
welcome to submit their own entries.

Assignment:
1. Research a bridge design (viewing actual bridges, library, internet) and submit a sketch of your bridge
design. This part of the assignment is worth 15 points of the total 70 points.

 Intro Bridge Research Paper - Due 11/15

2. Building the bridge. Refer to the guidelines below for your bridge construction. This part of the assignment
is worth 50 points of the total 70 points. Due Date: to be announced by teacher, it will occur during the
week of 12/9

Schoolwide finals will be held in room 116 on Thursday 12/19 during Lunch.
→ Only students who qualify for the finals are eligible to attend. Testing will be streamed for others.

3. Final analysis. This part of the assignment is worth 5 points of the total 70 points. Due Date: Friday 1/3

RESEARCH & DESIGN

Your first assignment is to research a specific bridge design as assigned to you in class (beam, truss-
superstructure, truss-substructure, arch, and suspension). Using this information you will share and discuss
among your group which bridge designs may or may not work for your particular bridge construction (to be
discussed in more detail at a later date). Following your group discussion you will submit a sketch of your
bridge design by 11/6.

Write an approximately 500-700 word (1-2 pages double spaced) paper in MLA format, citing at least two
references, to analyze your assigned bridge design. Be sure to include a bibliography in MLA format.

Research of bridge designs to include the following (but not limited to):
- bridge structure
- common example of your specific type of bridge
- Images (1-2) to support your explanation
- advantages and disadvantages of your specific type of bridge over others
- physics application to bridge design - basics of bridge support and the way it reacts to the forces and
stresses put on it.

The sketch must include at least two views (1) a side-view and (2) an end-view (the view a car would see upon
entering). You must include rough dimensions in your sketches. This does not need to be your final plan, but
should serve as an initial guide.
 Scoring Rubric

Very Good Good Fair

Citations and Materials 1. Everything is cited 1. Everything is cited 1. Almost everything is
(3 points) properly, using properly (except cited properly, using
internal citations. pictures and internal citations.
2. Relevant pictures and diagrams), using 2. Pictures and diagrams
diagrams are used internal citations. are missing.
and referenced in 2. Pictures and diagrams 3. Sources may or may
paper. are included but not not be reputable.
3. Sources are all referenced in paper.
reputable and relate 3. Sources are reputable
to the topic. and relate to the
topic.
Thoroughness of 1. At least 2 sources are 1. At least 1 source is 1. No sources used.
Research (5 points) used. used. 2. Missing some bridge
2. Type of bridge is 2. Missing some bridge properties.
thoroughly explored properties.
including
a. Bridge structure
b. Common
example of your
specific type of
bridge
c. Advantages and
disadvantages of
your specific type
of bridge over
others
d. Physics
application to
bridge design
Presentation of 1. Clearly communicate 1. Research is somewhat 1. Research is not
Information research to group clearly communicated clearly communicated
(4 points) members. 2. Information used is 2. Information is not
2. Information that is mostly related to the related to the topic.
used is all related to topic. 3. Respectful towards
the topic. 3. Respectful towards group members
3. Respectful towards group members during none or only a
group members during most few presentations.
during all presentations. 4. Completes none of
presentations. 4. Completes some peer the peer evaluations
4. Completes all peer evaluations
evaluations
Diagram of the bridge 1. Diagram depicts side 1. Diagram depicts side 1. Diagram depicts
you intend build (3) view. view. either side view or
2. Diagram depicts 2. Diagram depicts end view.
alternate view (other alternate view (other 2. Diagram does not
than side view). than side view). include dimensions
3. Diagram includes 3. Diagram does not
dimensions includes dimensions

CONSTRUCTION
Materials:
1. You will design and build a bridge using either round/square or flat or a mixture of the two types of
toothpicks found at any food store. You may NOT use fancy, bamboo, or plastic toothpicks. Standard
 toothpicks are about 5.5cm in length and come 750 (for flat) or 250 (round/square) to a box. If you are not
sure if your toothpicks are appropriate, check with your teacher before you start building. Please get a
sample of the approved toothpick from the teacher.

2. You must provide your own toothpicks and glues such as Elmer’s glue, wood glue, epoxy, hot glue, and
super glue. Do not use any expanding glues or anything similar (ex. Original Gorilla glue or any foam
glues)… however Gorilla Wood Glue is acceptable. If you are uncertain, please submit your glue to your
teacher for approval. You are to use a modest amount of glue as an adhesive, not as a structural component.

3. Paper (wax paper is recommended) may be used to align and glue toothpicks, but it must be removed after
the glue dries. Painting of the bridge is not allowed.

Specifications:
1. Maximum mass of bridge: 60 grams (approx. one box of toothpicks + modest glue)

2. Minimum inside width of foundation: 4.00 cm. 4.00 cm

or wider
3. Minimum length of bridge: >25.00 cm. It must be longer to span the 25 cm gap.

4. Maximum thickness of the beam resting on the platform is 0.7 cm.

5. You must use a “significant” superstructure above or substructure below the 5cm
foundation.
a. A significant superstructure that is at least 5cm tall from the foundation.
There must be at least 5 cm vertical clearance between the entire 4 cm

foundation and the superstructure. Supports must not impede the 4-cm
road width internally. (There must be an opening that is at least 4cm wide
and 5cm tall so that we can pass a 4 cm X 5 cm cross sectional “truck”
along your road)
b. A substructure that is at least 3cm below the foundation
(measured center to center of each platform/ beam) and both 3 cm 3 cm

must cover at least 15cm of the bridge.

c. Pancake Bridges (those bridges without significant super or 15
cm
sub structure) will be disqualified !!!

6. The foundation may be arched, but the arch of the foundation must be no more than 15° at the beginning and
at the end. In addition, the foundation cannot have sudden rises or folds.
Testing
Testing will take place during Physics class. Your teacher will inform you of the due date for your class.

A bucket with a padded handle [* see below!] will be placed across the center of the foundation. Weights will be
placed in the bucket so that the total starting load is equal to 5 lbs. If the bridge is stable and holds the load
successfully, another 5 lbs will be placed inside the bucket. This continues until a total of 40 lbs has been
successfully supported. The weights will then be removed and your bridge will be impounded for the finals.

[*If your bridge uses a superstructure, there must be an opening 1/2” through which the bucket handle can be fed. If
this opening is not there, it will be created!]

In the finals, the initial bucket will contain a weight for a total load of 50 lbs. If this is supported successfully, weight
will be added in increments of 10 lbs until the bridge fails.

Note: A bridge has failed when it no longer supports the load and spans the gap. If your bridge bends and falls
through the gap, it is done - even if it has not broken!

Also note: During the preliminary testing of bridges that appear weak, your teacher may add smaller weights before
placing the 5 lb bucket. This will be done at the discretion of the teacher.

Grading
Your bridge performance grade will be determined by the ratio of the maximum weight held successfully divided by
the mass of the bride. Therefore, a 30-gram bridge that supports 30 lbs. (ratio = 30 lbs/30 g = 1.0 lb/g) will score
higher than a 60-gram bridge that supports 50 lbs (ratio 50 lbs/60 g =. 83 lb/g)

Other factors may be involved in the calculation of your grade; your teacher will inform you of these.

All decisions of the classroom teacher panel are final!!!

 Bridge Scoring Guide

Grade will be the better of the Ratio and Supported Weight grading scale

Ratio (LB/g) Grade Points out of 50 Supported Weight Points out of 50

Less than 0.1 C- 35.5 0-5 lbs -

0.1 – 0.2 C 37.5 5 lbs 37.5

0.2 – 0.3 C+ 39 10 lbs 39

0.3 – 0.4 B- 40.5 15 lbs 40.5

0.4 – 0.5 B 42.5 20 lbs 42.5

0.5 – 0.6 B+ 44 25 lbs 44

0.7 – 0.9 A- 46 30 lbs 46

0.9 – 1.1 A 48 40 lbs 48

1.1 – 1.3 A 50 50 lbs 50

1.3 – 1.5 A 51 60 lbs 51

1.5 – 1.7 A 52 70 lbs 52

1.7 – 1.9 A 53 80 lbs 53

1.9 – 2.1 A 54 90 lbs 54

2.1 – 2.3 A 55 100 lbs 55

2.3 – 2.5 A 56 110 lbs 56

 REFLECTION

Students will create a final written conclusion to incorporate: (Due 1/3)

1. Mass of bridge in grams, pound weight supported, weight to mass ratio, and ranking if among the top bridges.

2. Where and why the bridge failed. Photo evidence must be provided to support explanation. Can be a screenshot
from the video recording of your bridge testing or a picture of your broken bridge.

3. How the structure performed in comparison to other bridge designs.

Additional note! The following component of the project is optional:

4. Students can reconstruct their bridge “from scratch” and improve upon its design based on evidence
found. Resubmissions are due Friday 1/12. If the “new” bridge has an improved result, the previous grade will
change to reflect an average between the previous and the new result. If it has not improved, the resubmission
will not count for any credit. New bridge must follow all guidelines. If the new bridge is disqualified for any
reason then no improvement to the grade will be made.

Scoring Rubric

Very Good Good Fair

Specification Review Inclusion of all Inclusion of most No inclusion of
specifications (1 pt) specifications (0.5 pt) specifications (0 pts)
Analysis of bridge failure Includes thorough analysis Includes analysis of either No analysis provided.
of where and why the where or why bridge (0 pts)
bridge structure failed structure failed.
(2 pts) OR Includes both where
and why bridge structure
failed but is not a thorough
analysis. (1 pt)
Performance comparison Student compared their Student compared their No comparison was made.
own bridge performance to own bridge performance to (0 pts)
bridges of the same only one type of bridge
structure as well as at least structure. (0.5 pts)
one other type of structure.
(1 pt)
Analysis of weak points Provided photo evidence of Provided photo evidence of No photo evidence or
breaking point and breaking point or identified identification of
identified weaknesses in weaknesses in the weaknesses. (0 pts)
the structure. (1 pt) structure. (0.5 pts)