Bridge Building

Mackinac Bridge

Bridges assist humans with transportation needs, and humans have been building them for thousands of years.  Of course, there are some basic types of bridges, but with technology bridges have advanced and continue to become stronger and longer.  Here are various types of bridges found at Bridges 101, which was created for a sixth grade project.  Two more valuable site created for the PBS website on bridge basics and The Society of Women Engineers.  Also, check out How Bridge Work, which goes over three of the following bridges.

1. Arch Bridge (Video on Arch Bridge)
2. Beam Bridge
3. Suspension Bridge
4. Cantilever 

There are three forces that act on bridges.  They are compression, tension, and torsion.  

Here is a video listing some of the problems that present themselves when a bridge is needed for transportation.  This is a National Geographic video and includes a few examples of bridges.




Bridge Building Game.
The purpose of the game is to construct a bridge that will allow the lemming like pink dinosaurs to cross safely across a chasm.  Here are links to similar games:

• Cargo Bridge
• Bridgecraft

I will leave you with a video of Galloping Gertie.  This was the nickname of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge after it collapsed in 1940.  I definitely would not want to be anywhere near this bridge when it failed.