Are you always searching for an engineering activity to keep your little’s hands busy and brain engaged? Look no further! Combine architecture with engineering and watch their creations unfold. Learn and laugh together while building and testing bridges out of different materials.
Bridges and Architecture
Bridges are important in architecture because they allow passage across physical obstacles without obstructing movement below them. They can span bodies of water, roadways, and can stretch from building to building.
Types of Bridges to Inspire Your Engineering Activity
There are seven main types of bridges. Learning about the different types will help your little when designing and building their own bridge.
BEAM BRIDGES are very simple. They are made up of a crossbeam spanning the distance of the bridge and abutments on each end. They can be built very quickly and cheaply, and they can be used in many different types of locations. However, piers must be added to achieve longer lengths, and weight limits are sometimes necessary.
TRUSS BRIDGES have many triangular shaped vertical supports built all along the horizontal beam. They are the strongest type of bridge and can withstand all extreme weather conditions. However, they require a lot of space to build and architectural and engineering specialists.
ARCH BRIDGES use one or more arches below the main deck. The structural integrity of these bridges is dependent on the arch or arches. Arch bridges are very strong and adapt well to weather. However, they can be time consuming and require multiple arches to span greater distances.
CANTILEVER BRIDGES have pillars on each end, the horizontal beam built out of the anchored pillars, and diagonal supports coming up to the beam from the pillars. Diving boards are cantilevers because they are only anchored on one end. Cantilever bridges are made of two cantilevers that meet in the middle, with extra diagonal supports. Cantilever bridges are a great way to span long distances with a bridge. However, they can be more expensive to build because they generally require more materials.
CABLE-STAYED BRIDGES have tall, vertical columns that extend above the horizontal beam with cables coming down in a fan shape to meet the beam. Cable-stayed bridges allow for even greater lengths than cantilever bridges and they can be constructed quickly. However, the cables can be hard to maintain and susceptible to corrosion more than the components of other types of bridges.
SUSPENSION BRIDGES have vertical pylons made out of steel or reinforced concrete that extend above the horizontal beam of the bridge. Their supporting cables made out of steel hang from the vertical pylons. They are different from cable-stayed bridges because they use vertical cable between the horizontal beam and the support cable. Suspension bridges can span the greatest distances with less piers, which allows for waterways below to remain open. However, high winds can cause vibrations and all the cables must be well maintained to keep the bridge in place.
TIED-ARCH BRIDGES have arches above the horizontal beam with vertical cables coming down to meet the beam. They are very strong and can be built in a different location and transported to the bridge location. However, they require regular maintenance and tend to be more expensive than other bridge types of the same length.
Bridge Building Engineering Activity
I hope your little is now inspired to start building! Like many engineering activities, this is an open ended activity. I have listed many different types of materials that can be used. You can use one, some or all of them! You can challenge your little to make different types of bridges with different materials.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
- Popsicle Sticks – large and small
- pipe cleaners
- plastic straws
- cardboard
- string
- egg cartons
- rubber bands
- toilet paper or paper towel rolls
- scissors
- masking tape
- LEGOS
INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1: First Gather your materials.
STEP 2: Next talk to your little about bridges. What do they already know about bridges? What would they like to learn?
Ask your little:
- What types of bridges have you seen?
- Have you been on a bridge? In a car or on foot?
- Have you seen bridges of different sizes?
- What are the materials used in the bridges?
- Why were the bridges you have seen or been on built?
STEP 3: Then decide what type of bridge you are going to build: beam bridge, truss bridge, arch bridge, cantilever bridge, cable-stayed bridge, suspension bridge or tied-arch bridge.
STEP 4: After that decide on what materials you are going to use. Remember, you don’t have to use all the materials available. Discuss which materials would work the best for each type of bridge. For example, string might work best for building a suspension bridge and cable-stayed bridge, and popsicle sticks might work best for the triangular structures in truss bridges.
STEP 5: Finally, take a step back and watch your little’s creative juices flow! I think you will be amazed at what your little comes up with.
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
- Test the strength of your bridge! Use something small like coins or marbles as weights. Place the weights on top of the bridge one at a time. Alternatively, attach a piece of string to a cup and hang it from the bridge. Place the weights in the cup one at a time to test how much weight the bridge can withstand!
- Check out the rest of our Engineering Activities by clicking on this link!
- Share your bridge with a friend.
- Share your little’s bridges on social media @littlehandsonscience. I would LOVE to see what masterpieces they create!