Name: andrew d bauch
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Around 1993
Question:
I am constructing a bridge made of toothpicks. That is the best possible
design that would hold the most weight?
Replies:
I once had to do this for an engineering class project except that we used
balsa wood and had to span a specified length (perhaps yours is the same).
I remember the student that won (which unfortunately was not me) used all of
his wood to make two simple members. He measured carefully the position of
the loading point relative to that of each supporting end of the span. He
designed a supporting device for the weight that was added an two "feet"
that fit snugly against the sides of the loading device. He also put layers
of glue on his two members after he glued them together. With the layers of
glue, it was almost a composite material of wood and glue. You might use
some of these ideas, along with your own imagination.
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