HELP! Cub Scout Popsicle Stick Bridge

[Zandy595]

Has anyone done one of these? Are you allowed to use plans? If so, where would I find plans. I have no idea how to help DS10 do this.

 

[cardaway]

You could search for pictures of old wood bridges and copy those. Use the sticks as they used long pieces of lumber and build the same bridge.

 

[Zandy595]

 

[almacdonald]

Triangles and arches support better than squares.... I'm just a geologyist so I have no engineering type explanation as to why.

 

[goofypiratehunter]

when we did it all we did was give them popsicle sticks and glue. Then we told them that triangles were best and let them sort into groups of 3 and do it on their own. Pretty much all up to the kid

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I made one in physics in 12th grade.

Is this where you try to get it to hold a bunch of weight?

I got an A on mine---Want to say it held somewhere between 150 and 250 pounds, but I just don't remember.

Is it for a badge???

Does it have to look like a bridge. Mine looked nothing like a bridge--but I basically used the sticks to reinforce one another along the lines of the triangle bit.

If for a badge--I would suspect the idea was the same as when I did it--using science and math to discern the best way to build the bridge on his own.