Physics students test skills in bridge design

Vancouver Island University instructor Tom Leavitt knows how to make learning fun.

Each year, he involves students in a bridge-building contest. The criteria for building materials is simple – 110 popsicle sticks and white glue.

“Students retain information much better if they enjoy the learning process,” says Leavitt, who teaches physics in VIU’s Adult Basic Education department (ABE).

This year’s winning bridge, built by student Wayne Wright, withstood 150 kilograms (330 pounds). I’ve been running the contest for five years, but never has a student designed a bridge that could withstand so much weight,” said Leavitt. “This year, I was forced to redesign my measuring device. The project is a good way for students to study forces in equilibrium and experience some of the realistic challenges facing engineers.”

Before students start building, Leavitt encourages them to research bridge design on the internet. “Bridge design has fascinated humans for centuries, pretty much since the beginning of time,” he said.

Students in Leavitt’s class create their own bridge designs with the West Point Bridge Building Program. Then, working in pairs or alone, they construct a bridge out of popsicle sticks that spans 50 centimetres.

“The popsicle stick bridges must follow certain size restrictions,” said Leavitt. “Weight is added to the bridge until it collapses, and using a special measuring device, we record the amount the bridge can withstand.”

This year’s contest saw some rule changes that allowed for a little more flexibility in the way the popsicle sticks were used. “The effects were noticeable,” said Leavitt. “Three bridges held more weight – about 45 kilograms more (100 pounds) than the best bridges built in previous years.”

In addition to Wright’s winning bridge,  student Joey Wells designed a bridge that classmates voted “most aesthetic.” Student Nick Robbins won for the best estimate of load capacity.

Wright, who graduated from Ladysmith Secondary in 2004, said the bridge building contest made Physics 12 more interactive and interesting. He spent the past year upgrading his high school education through ABE. In September, he plans to start first-year Engineering at VIU.

“I didn’t apply myself in high school, but now at age 24, I know what I want to do,” he said. “The ABE program is great because the instructors really want to help you succeed. There is always lots of help available.”

This year’s Physics students set a high standard for next year’s competition, added Leavitt. “Once again, the students had fun learning. The bridge building contest is a tradition in my classroom I plan to continue.”