Instructions
for the ACEC's "Invisible World" Video
POPSICLE STICK TRUSS BRIDGE
Instructions
By John Christiansen,
8th grader, Powell MS, Littleton, CO
Graphics
By Ken Loontjer, Neujahr and Gorman, Inc., Denver, CO
PURPOSE:
To build a bridge spanning twelve inches that will hold 50 lbs. The
bridge is to be made of only popsicle sticks and glue.
Materials
- 114 straight
popsicle sticks
- 2 or 3 heavy
books
- Ruler
- Glue - school
or wood glue is best
- Rubber bands
or small clamps (orthodontic bands are great!)
- Saw/sandpaper
- a dremel tool works also
Procedure:
| 1) |
Select 9
of the sticks, break one in half and lay 3 against a ruler.
Glue them together, forming a beam 3 popsicle sticks thick
and 3 long. Clamp or rubber band it together and allow to
dry.
Repeat step
1 three more times - you should have 4 beams
|
| 2) |
Select 6
of the sticks, break one in half and lay two against a ruler.
Glue them together, forming a beam 3 sticks thick and 2 long.
Clamp or rubber band it and allow to dry.
Repeat step
2 - you should have 2 beams.
|
| 3) |
Select 12
sticks and two beams - a long and a short one. Lay them on
a table with the flat part of the beams down. Glue 6 sticks
on top in a triangular pattern. Then glue 6 on the underside
in the same fashion. Press with books.
Repeat step
3 - you should have 2 walls.
|
| 4) |
Sand or cut
the extra off of the walls
|
| 5) |
Lay the 2
remaining beams on a table. Glue 33 popsicle sticks onto them,
forming the road.
Press
with books.
|
| 6) |
Glue the
2 walls at a right angle onto the road.
Hold
the walls in place until the glue sets.
|
| 7) |
Glue crossbeams
on top of the walls. You will use a total of 9 sticks. Allow
to dry.
|
| 8) |
Smear extra
glue on the joint between the wall and the road. This will
reinforce the joint.
Allow to
dry, and YOU’RE DONE!
|
|
