Bridge Design Lab: Ask, Test, Analyze, Improve! by Domenic Dimenichi

Hypothesis: Bridge Load Capacity Investigation

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:50 UTC

Formulate testable questions about bridge weight capacity. Examples: 'Which truss design (Warren, Pratt, or Howe) can support the most weight?' or 'How does the length of a bridge affect its load-bearing capacity?' You must identify independent and dependent variables and post your hypothesis.

Table: Material Strength Comparison

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:50 UTC

Develop questions comparing different building materials for bridges. Example: 'Do bridges made from popsicle sticks, straws, or pasta hold more weight?' Identify controlled variables like bridge length, design pattern, and adhesive type. Attach a table comparing the different materials.

Bridge Blueprint Design

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:50 UTC

Create detailed sketches of your bridge designs, including measurements and materials list. Photograph your blueprints and upload them, explaining your design choices and identifying all controlled variables (length, width, height, materials, construction method).

Testing Protocol Planning

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:50 UTC

Develop step-by-step testing procedures for your bridge investigations. Describe how you will safely add weight, measure deflection, and record data. Include safety considerations and materials needed for testing.

Variable Control Chart

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:50 UTC

Create a chart listing independent variables (what you're testing), dependent variables (what you're measuring), and controlled variables (what stays the same). This ensures fair testing across different bridge designs.

Google Sheets: Load Testing Results

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:50 UTC

Record weight capacity data in a Google Sheet table showing how much weight each bridge design held before failure. Attach your Google Sheets of bridges during testing and note the point of failure.

Photos: Bridge Photos before and after breaking

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:50 UTC

Photograph how much your bridges bend under different loads before and after breaking. Attach photos of bridges during testing and note the point of failure.

Failure Mode Documentation

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:52 UTC

Watch this video to see bridges in the real world that failed. Pay attention to exactly how and where these bridges failed. Record a video response to this YouTube Video that is less than a minute long.

Engineering Principles Analysis

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:53 UTC

Explain your results using engineering concepts like compression, tension, and load distribution. Connect your observations to scientific principles: 'Our truss bridge held more weight because triangular shapes distribute forces efficiently, reducing stress concentration points.'

Design Performance Evaluation

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:53 UTC

Analyze why your bridge performed as it did by examining the relationship between design features and results. Identify which structural elements contributed to success or failure and explain using evidence from their data.

Video: Design Defense Presentation

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:53 UTC

Record a 2-3 minute video presentation defending your bridge design choices. You must use data as evidence, compare your results to other teams, and explain why your approach was effective or what they would change.

Voice Recording: Peer Design Comparison

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:53 UTC

Create a voice recording comparing your bridge's performance to classmates' designs. Identify patterns across different designs and argue which design features are most important for bridge strength, using class data as evidence.

Triangle Power Investigation

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:53 UTC

Identify and photograph all triangular shapes in your bridge designs, explaining how triangles provide structural stability. Measure angles and calculate how triangulation distributes forces more effectively than rectangles or other shapes.

Arch and Curved Geometry

domenicdimenichi — 2025-11-19 14:07:53 UTC

Identify real-world bridges that use similar geometric principles and attach photos of them. Take one bridge and measure the arc length and angles. Explain how arches transfer weight through compression.