GENTRY -- Doug Fisher's senior physics class got into some engineering challenges when students were given the assignment to design and construct a balsa wood bridge to span 40 centimeters. Bridges were required to weigh less than 100 grams but would be tested and judged for load-bearing capacity.
The project was a major part of the students' semester grades, and spring break came at just the right time for construction. The bridges were then tested as to their load-bearing ability.
Chloe Park, an international student from Korea, constructed a bridge which supported 58 pounds before collapsing. Others collapsed at lower weights.
Doug Fisher used a digital tester for load-bearing capacities, which couples into a computer, to be able to project a live graph on the screen of the weight bearing and of the final collapse.
Community on 05/09/2018