Can your bridge hold 100 pennies?

Can you build a bridge that holds 100 pennies, using 1 sheet of paper and up to 5 paper clips? A bridge must support its own weight (the dead load) as well as the weight of anything placed on it, like the pennies (the live load). Your paper bridge must span 20 centimeters (about 8 in.).

How do you make a paper bridge?

Line up two pieces of paper end to end, so the short edges are overlapping just slightly (by about a quarter of an inch). Use long strips of Scotch tape to bind the pieces of paper together on both sides. These two pieces of paper will make one “bridge.”

How are pennies added to a Paper Bridge?

A single index card (or strip from an index card) is placed across two supports. Then, pennies are added one at a time until the bridge collapses and touches the tabletop. In this case, three pennies does the trick.

What do you use to build a Paper Bridge?

To build the paper bridges, students will use all the same materials: A single index card (or strip from an index card) is placed across two supports. Then, pennies are added one at a time until the bridge collapses and touches the tabletop. In this case, three pennies does the trick.

How many pennies can you hold on a bridge?

Make a bridge, then test it to see how many pennies it will hold. Some of your bridges may hold a few pennies before falling down. Others may be stronger, but the pennies may slide right off. And some bridges will probably hold a lot more pennies than you’d think.

What are the rules for a Paper Bridge?

Follow these rules when testing: The bridge must be able to hold pennies without the pennies falling off. So, for example, a circular bridge will probably not work, because the pennies will slide off the top. You can use up to two pieces of tape on your paper to prevent it from unrolling/unfolding.