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\begin{document}

\title{Building Bridges: An Introduction to Forces and Structures~~~~}



\author[1]{Madhushi Weerasinghe}%
\affil[1]{Affiliation not available}%


\vspace{-1em}



  
  \date{May 30, 2024}


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\textbf{Subject:} Engineering, Physics, Civil engineering, Material
engineering

\textbf{Timeframe:} 50 minutes

\textbf{Target Audience}: Children at the age of 8 - 12 years

\textbf{Objective:~}

\begin{enumerate}
\tightlist
\item
  to instruct students on the engineering concepts involved in building
  bridges, as well as the many types of bridges, their parts, and the
  forces acting on them.
\item
  to inspire students to use critical thinking and creative
  problem-solving skills when creating buildings that can resist various
  loads and strains.
\item
  to instruct students about the characteristics of various materials
  used to build bridges, such as their strength, weight, and resource
  management.
\item
  to encourage kids' teamwork and cooperation as they design and
  construct their bridges together.
\item
  as they present their concepts and ideas to their classmates, to help
  kids improve their communication and presenting abilities.
\item
  To give children a practical, engaging learning experience that piques
  their interest in engineering, math, and science and inspires them to
  pursue it.
\end{enumerate}

\textbf{New Keywords:} Load, Stress, Durability, Deck, Tension,
Compression, Force

\textbf{Bridge types:} Arch bridge, beam bridge, suspension bridge,
cable-stayed bridge, truss bridge, cantilever bridge, movable bridge

\textbf{Structural components:} Deck, abutment, pier, column, girder,
truss, cable, stay, anchor, etc.

\textbf{Materials:} Concrete, steel, wood, aluminum, composite materials

\textbf{Design considerations:} Load capacity, deflection, stability,
wind resistance, seismic resistance, durability

\textbf{Materials that we provide:~}

\begin{enumerate}
\tightlist
\item
  Clay
\item
  Popsicle sticks
\item
  Barbeque skewers
\item
  Plastic straws~
\item
  Rigid foam~
\item
  Toothpicks
\end{enumerate}

\textbf{Other tools and equipment:}

\begin{enumerate}
\tightlist
\item
  Glue gun
\item
  Glue tack
\item
  Rubber bands
\item
  Sellotapes / Duct tapes
\item
  Wood glue/ Binder gum
\item
  Strings~
\item
  Scissors\textbf{~}
\end{enumerate}

\textbf{Background Knowledge}

\begin{itemize}
\tightlist
\item
  Educate the kids of the function of a bridge. Students should be aware
  that bridges are built to carry the weight of people, cars, and other
  things when they pass over water or other barriers. Tension,
  compression, weight, stress, and durability are only a few of the
  crucial structural principles that must be thoroughly understood in
  order to build a bridge. Several different kinds of bridges can alter
  these ideas in various ways. Give the pupils an explanation of each of
  these ideas. Display the special qualities of various popular bridge
  styles (truss, beam, arch, cantilever).~
\end{itemize}

\textbf{Famous bridges in the world:}

\begin{enumerate}
\tightlist
\item
  Golden Gate bridge - USA
\item
  Tower Bridge - England
\item
  Nine Arch Bridge - Sri Lanka
\item
  Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge - Japan
\item
  Sydney Harbour Bridge - Australia
\item
  Si-a-se Pol - Iran
\item
  Brooklyn Bridge - USA
\item
  The chapel bridge - Switzerland
\item
  Hangzhou Bay Bridge
\end{enumerate}

\begin{itemize}
\tightlist
\item
  \textbf{Force:} A force is a push or a pull that can cause an object
  to move or change its shape. For instance, you apply force on a toy
  car when you push it. Moreover, forces have the ability to halt, slow
  down, or reverse motion. A kind of force that pushes objects downwards
  towards the ground is called gravity. Gravity drags you back to the
  ground when you jump. Hence, forces might be strong or weak and act in
  many directions. They are all around us and provide explanations about
  how the world functions.
\end{itemize}

\begin{itemize}
\tightlist
\item
  \textbf{Tension:} A force that stretches or pulls apart a substance is
  called tension. In the construction of bridges, tension is crucial
  since, if not properly taken into consideration, it can lead to a
  bridge's failure. By utilizing materials that can tolerate stretching,
  such as steel cables or sturdy ropes, bridges are made to resist
  tension forces.
\end{itemize}

\begin{itemize}
\tightlist
\item
  \textbf{Compression:} The reverse of tension, compression is a force
  that squeezes or compresses a substance. Compression forces can also
  result in a bridge buckling or collapsing, thus bridges must be built
  to resist them as well. For building bridges, materials like concrete,
  steel, and stone are frequently utilized to withstand compression
  stresses.
\end{itemize}

\begin{itemize}
\tightlist
\item
  \textbf{Weight:} Weight is a key aspect of consideration when planning
  and constructing bridges since they need to be capable of withstanding
  both their own weight and the weight of any vehicles, persons, or
  other items that will be using them for transportation. Structures may
  collapse if weight is not taken into account.
\end{itemize}

\begin{itemize}
\tightlist
\item
  \textbf{Stress:} is the force that causes a material to deform or take
  on a different shape after being applied. For bridges to be strong and
  long-lasting, they must be made to withstand stress. Weight,
  temperature changes, and natural disasters like earthquakes are just a
  few of the many things that can induce stress.
\end{itemize}

\begin{itemize}
\tightlist
\item
  \textbf{Durability:} A material or structure's durability refers to
  its capacity to tolerate wear, corrosion, or damage over time. In
  order to last for a long time while still being safe and effective,
  bridges must be built to be durable. Weather conditions, exposure to
  water or salt, and ordinary wear and tear are some factors that can
  affect durability.
\end{itemize}

\textbf{The Lesson Breakdown}

\textbf{Part 1: Basics of Bridge-Building}

\begin{itemize}
\tightlist
\item
  Introduce students to the concept of forces that act on structures,
  such as weight, tension, and compression.~
\item
  Encourage them to design force diagrams to represent these forces in a
  logical manner. Apply a basic force diagram to the design of a bridge.
\item
  Discuss the purpose of a bridge - to provide a safe way for people and
  vehicles to cross a body of water or other obstacles. Show them
  examples of different types of bridges, such as suspension, arch, and
  beam bridges.
\end{itemize}

\textbf{Part 2: Build your ideal Bridge}

\begin{itemize}
\tightlist
\item
  Allow kids to use the tools and materials given to create their own
  bridges in small groups. It is advised that children conduct their own
  study to find which materials from the possibilities offered would be
  best suited for their bridge design in order to make the
  bridge-building exercise more interesting and educational. They will
  be capable of learning about the materials they have access to, their
  characteristics, and their prospective applications in construction
  through this procedure.
\end{itemize}

\begin{itemize}
\tightlist
\item
  Ask them to think about the various forces that will be exerted on
  their bridge and how they can design a sturdy and secure construction.
  Have the children create their bridge with a force diagram
  demonstrating the forces placed on the bridge once they have a firm
  grasp of the forces at play.
\item
  The students should create their Bill of Materials based on the
  materials provided to them, including the quantities, once their
  designs are finished.
\item
  Now that the method has been broken down into step-by-step
  instructions, the students should plan their building stage.
\item
  The students should begin construction of the bridge after completing
  the planning phase by according to their instructions and in
  accordance with their bill of materials.
\item
  When finished, instruct the pupils to test the structures' capacity by
  placing weights on top of them. Ask your children to write down
  whatever information and observations they have.
\item
  Discuss the many factors that operated on the students' bridges while
  having them present their ideas. To determine the strongest and
  weakest components of their structures, ask the students.
\end{itemize}

\textbf{Extension:~}

After the bridge has been tested, have a discussion about the design and
construction of bridges, emphasizing the significance of safety
precautions such load restrictions and routine maintenance. Teach
children to consider the causes and effects of a bridge crumbling or
collapsing.

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