Here is the information about the Spagetthi challenge on school4you!

1. SPAGHETTI BRIDGE
COMPETITION
school4you

2. Instructions
Build your own bridge by using dry pasta and
glue.
At the conclusion of the competition the bridge is
stress-tested to determine its strength.
Work in teams of three students/group.

3. SPAGHETTI CHALLENGE
During this project you will incorporate many connections from real life
mathematics and technology.
First, do some research on bridge designs, building codes and rules.
Then, design your own bridge, structure and strength by using dry
spaghetti and glue. The spaghetti can not weigh more than 35o g in
total when ready (see rules)!
A loading point shall be provided mid span to suit placement of a short
steel rod to allow a load to hang from the bridge.

4. What´s happening?
There are many things to think about when constructing a bridge even
though it is only made of spaghetti.
The two most important forces you have to consider are compression and
tension.
Compression is a force that will try to compress or shorten the thing it is
acting on.
Tension will try to lengthen or expand the thing it is acting on.
These two forces act on all bridges, and a bridge needs to be able to
handle these forces without buckling or snapping.

5. A bridge will buckle when the force of compression is greater than its ability to
handle compression.
A bridge will snap when the force of tension overcomes an object´s ability to handle
tension.
A good bridge design will attempt to spread the force over a greater area, or move
the force from an area of weakness to an area of strength.
Triangles are a strong shape, by using them in your bridge it helps you create a rigid
structure and transfers the load from one point to a much wider area.
Connection is also very important, where spaghetti parts come together there are
stress concentrations that can destroy your bridge! You may wish to glue little
tingles of parts of spaghetti around the joints to make what is called a ”gusset plate”.

6. Different types of bridges
BEAM BRIDGE: The beam bridge is the most simple. It is a horizontal beam supported
at both ends. They are only good for short distances.
ARCH BRIDGES: like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, are better for longer distances. The
weight is carried out and down to the ground along the two curving paths that make up
the arch. They can withstand large compressive forces and are made of relatively
simply materials.
SUSPENSION BRIDGES: are good if you need length and flexibility. They consist of a
main deck supported by cables which lead to towers. The weight from the deck is
transferred to the cables, then to the towers and finally to the ground. They are good at
covering distances from 500 m - 1 km.

7. Rules
Your bridge has to be ready on April 14:th.
The winners will be announced in April on school4you.
Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:
DESIGN
STRENGTH
Report - by digital storytelling (make sure that it weight and strength
is visible in the movie)!

9. Resources:
http://www.slideshare.net/emmasmith87/spaghetti-bridge-
competition-2010