What keeps building from toppling over in the wind? Why are some earthquake-proof and others not? We’re going to look at how engineers design buildings and bridges while making our own.
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cool! i did this on a slightly wobbly table that i made an earthquake with, and used a small fan to create “hurricane force” winds! thx for the fun aurora!
Yes we do have Civil Engineering, but it’s not a part of the online science program, it’s an add-on. You can learn more about it here: https://www.superchargedscience.com/shop/single-topic-lessons/
We did cover a little bit of civil engineering in August – you can click on LIVE CLASSES and scroll to AUGUST to find recordings of the live classes there as well. Hope this helps!
is there a civil engineering section???
if yes i would love to see it.
Muhammad Mustafa Khan
13
A quick example is within a member of the bridge itself, with the top part of the beam being pushed one way and the bottom being pushed in the other.
Thank you. So what would be an example of shear force acting on a bridge?
The shear force is when you have forces that are not aligned (they do not line up with each other along the same line) pushing on an object in opposing directions. If you were to push the wall at the top in one direction and pull the bottom in the other, that would be a shear force.
When they are along the same line, we call them compression forces.
What is the shear force in building bridges experiment? Thanks.
Yes, thank you!
Those are really good questions! Let me see if I can simplify and unify these for you.
A force is a push or pull. 70 lbs is a force. Your weight of 100 lbs is a force.
Scientists and engineers classify forces depending on their application. For example, civil engineers building a bridge talk about tension and compression (pull and push) when they build their structures. They want to know which beams are in tension (pull) or compression (push).
Physicists talk about the four forces as they are generated: gravitational, electromagnetic, strong and weak. They are still push-pull forces, but classified in ways that help them talk about how they are different from each other based on where you’d find these forces.
Does that help?
In the answers to the questions, the three forces listed are: shear, static, and tension. In the reading, it seems as though compression, torsion, and perhaps dynamic load are also forces. I am wondering why they are not listed. Are they forces as well?
Also, we learned earlier that the 4 types of forces were: electromagnetism, gravity, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force. What is the distinction between those types of forces and the types of forces we are learning about now?
Great work, Susanna!
My daughter, Susanna, wanted to show you the bridge she built after watching your science video :).
The cups don’t matter if there different then yours do they? ( like the red paper ones you can by at stores like walmart )
Thanks a lot!!!!
I am going to try candy and toothpicks and see who many things I can fit on it
Can other paper besides index cards work?
I built a house out of paper and it could go through a earthquake and could hold five wooden blocks
You might like the barrel roof experiment: https://www.sciencelearningspace2.com/2009/08/unit-1-mechanics-force-experiments-barrel-roof/ But no, we don’t get have a Civil Engineering section on structures… that’s actually a really good idea! Hmmm….
We enjoyed this bridge building activity. Do you have any more experiments on to learn about structures and materials?
Thanks, Aurora!!
Phoebe, age 10
Yes it sure does! Do you think it matters how thick wood planks are that hold up the structure of a house? 🙂
This is Phoebe and i’m 10 years old.
When i did the regular bridge, the one with nothing underneath, it was able to hold 14 plastic bears (about the size of lego people) and two plastic farm animals (twice the size of the bears) then i ran out of room to put them on the bridge. I was using paper a bit thicker than index cards. Does the thickness affect the stability?
Thanks!
Phoebe
Hi.
We used pennies on our bridges and the accordion fold held 233! Why is it so much stronger?
Is it because the folds spread the weight of the pennies out?
Andrew 7
Good experiment. I had to rein the kids in since they were going crazy building with clay, straws, and plastic cups. It was fun for them to see how different uses of materials really impacts its strength. Thank you.
Wanted to share our building of bridges from the lesson
This experiment was very fun 🙂
Thanks for the kudos! I know the Exploratorium has lots of cool bridge information, but I am not sure if it’s just in the museum or if they also put it online.
Loved this project. Wondered if you had recommendations for sites with lots of clear examples like the barrel bridge.
So glad you are enjoying the program! Did you find this experiment yet?
https://www.sciencelearningspace2.com/2009/08/net-forces/
You can measure the force using a fish scale attached to one end of the rope to measure the net force. Or you can add the scale on just about anything to measure it.
In relation to this experiment, my twelve-year-old is wondering how one can measure net force? How is net force measured, and can those practices be applied to index cards, clay, and blocks? Love the science learning. Thanks, Aurora!
The videos are in flash, and you need to view them on a device that can play flash videos (androids and others work well – unfortunately Apple doesn’t enable users to view flash files)> We’re working to remedy this issue in the future, but in the meantime you’ll need to use a computer/device that can play flash files. Sorry for the trouble!
Why are we unable to see your videos on our ipad?
Sure – lots of them! Send me a picture of yours!! 🙂
Hi Aurora,
Has anyone ever made a bridge entirely out of clay before? Is it possible? Just wondering. . .
Jasmin
Great i loved it . Totally helps !
your brill Aurora !
I simply loved the bridge experiment. My sisters and I had so much fun! We made tiny lego people and set them on the bridge. We only fit Issacar and Zebulun on the first bridge, and on the second one ( which is the arch bridge) we fit Issacar, Zebulun, Jalam, Simeon, Levi, Adah, Esua and Jacob on. The third which is the crinkly bridge( the one like cardboard), worked so well that we fit 18 people on! Thank you sooo much, Aurora!