Popsicle Bridge #2
This popsicle bridge was made from 58 unmodified popsicle sticks. It was 25 inches long, 4 inches tall, and 3 inches wide. I used only Elmer’s white glue to build the bridge. It weighed 86.5 grams, and held 45 pounds. Its efficiency score was 248.
I redesigned this bridge from the earlier version. The new one is more efficient. It is also easier to build. I changed the position of only a couple popsicle sticks, and actually took off a few. I found that the average popsicle stick weighed 1.49 grams.
Stronger Version
This bridge uses the same basic design as the one above but doubles the number popsicle sticks in strategic places.
This popsicle bridge was made from 84 unmodified popsicle sticks. It spanned 24 inches, was 4 inches tall and 3 inches wide. I used only Elmer’s white glue to build the bridge. It weighed 118 grams, and held 115 pounds. Its efficiency score was 442.
This bridge is slightly crooked, even though you cannot tell it from this photo. I’m sure that had an affect on its performance. However, this bridge was also tested 5 times. Both my sisters stood on it, and one twice before this picture was taken.
I thought I was making a movie when I tested the bridge, but found out afterward that I hadn’t started the camera. Oh well, maybe next time.
None of the popsicle sticks actually broke. Only the joints failed. This is something for me to keep in mind, as it should be very easy to make this bridge a lot stronger.
hmm pls give the side pictures of the bridge so that I have a good lok at it…
thank you for the advices and pictures it will help me a lot…
Wonderful! Can you give me the process of making a bridge especially the connection and distribution of loads. Big thanks.
Check out my 5 Steps to Building a Model Bridge ebook.
Suggestion to the builder of the bridges: The joints failed, and it appears that they could use a vertical stick on each side of them to brace the sticks, an x-shape the way the glue holds and the way it works will have each stick of the x slide a different direction.
brace the joints by gluing vertical and horizontal bars to each side.
Hey do you have any more side pictures of this bridge?? because i can’t see the middle very well…
Very well done, im doing a similar thing and was wandering what type of glue did you use?
Rene, I think I used Elmer’s white glue for this bridge. It isn’t my favorite glue, but I wanted to the most common glue that other people would probably be using.
im not sure wat glue they used but i can recommend the ad tech multi temp glue gun glue much better than glue sticks/glue bottles,tacky glue and all that other stuff if any to tell u the truth is really good glue and if u get it on u u only fell a slit sting of heat but it dont burn ur skin or nuthin like that
This WILL help me majorly with the competition in shop!!!
This is soo cool. I’m doing a school project and I have to build a model bridge. This helped me a ton!!! Thanx soo much!
Great Work!!
Hey wow that is really great that you got her to stand on that is must have had good stucture on it good jod ..but yeah sorry not much more to say.bye
is this a arch bridge?
Lainie, this is specific type of arch bridge called a camelback arch. The difference is that the arch on this bridge is not continuous. Instead it is broken up into sections, and those individual sections are straight. Does that make sense?
yes it is u can look up on the internet too and see it or just type in how to make a span bridge out of popsicle sticks and this wesite will be near top of page
wow, but would popsicle sticks be good for a sience fair projet ?
because i would need it to break at some time and not in an hour or so like in 5-10 minutes!!!!
please just post ar eply here on your website!!!!! C:
Wow! That is AMAZING your sister is standing on this TINY bridge and it is not Breaking
how can you stand on it??? thats bizzarre!!
How do you determine the efficiency of the bridges, and based on their scores what would the scale be?
Thanks in advance
Rob
Rob, to determine the efficiency I take the amount of weight held and divide that by the weight of the bridge.
How would you test for the mass the bridge can hold? the top of the bridge is not straight so you cannot place books/weights on top
Actually, the very top of this bridge is flat enough to allow loading with books or other weights.