10,000 Toothpick Model of a Bridge What Do You Think?

  • Thread starter Thread starter The Maker
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bridge Model
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a model bridge constructed from 10,000 toothpicks, detailing its specifications, construction process, and performance under weight. The scope includes aspects of engineering design and personal project experiences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • The model bridge weighs 1306.15 g and has specific dimensions including a height of 0.149 m and a length of 1.38 m.
  • The bridge was originally designed as part of a math class project to span 5 feet, though the actual span achieved was slightly less.
  • The builder reported that the bridge successfully held the weight of a 70-pound person without breaking, but expressed a desire not to test its limits further.
  • The construction process involved creating an arc shape, which was challenging, and the builder used wood glue instead of hot glue, which they considered a good choice.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express admiration for the bridge model, but there is no substantive debate or disagreement present in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not delve into the engineering principles behind the bridge's design or the specific materials used beyond the toothpicks and glue.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in engineering projects, model building, or educational experiences related to physics and mathematics may find this discussion relevant.

The Maker
Messages
16
Reaction score
11
I hope that you enjoy my new video! Here is the description:
This is "10,000 Toothpick Model of a Bridge"

Specs

Weight: 1306.15 g
Height: 0.149 m
Length: 1.38 m
Span: 1.16 m
Width Of Foot: 0.195 m
Width Of Roadbed: 0.0615 mI built it in the 8th grade. A project in math class was to build a 1,000 toothpick bridge over a one foot span. My group's bridge held 54 pounds before breaking. The current bridge was planned to span to span 5ft. It fell a little short, but the actual span can be found above in the specs. I had my little sister, who was 70 pounds at the time, stand on the bridge, and it held her weight. She was 70 pounds. I do not want to test it any further! I do not care if it could hold a car and then break, I do not want a broken bridge. It took me about 2 months to complete it (December 2014 - January 2015). The original arc shape was the hardest to get right. I thought about making a huge compass, but that was impractical. I decided to bend a ruler and trace to the formed arc. This turned out to be a very elegant solution. I made toothpick squares and laid them out on the arc on graph paper. From there I built it layer by layer. It slowly formed a solid triangle. I used wood glue instead of hot glue in this project. This was a very good choice.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: QuantumQuest and Charles Link
Engineering news on Phys.org
Very impressive ! :) :)
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: The Maker
Very cool!
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: The Maker
Charles Link said:
Very impressive ! :) :)
DennisN said:
Very cool!
Thank you both!
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Charles Link