BRIDGES WITH MATHS

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This workshop aims to demonstrate the use of Maths in an engineering problem. After an initial discussion about the various types of bridges and the people involved in designing bridges, pupils are set the task of testing the material to be used for making their bridge; in this case straws. The test is carried out by measuring and recording the weight that a given number of straws can support over a span of 10 cm. These results are plotted on a graph. The graph is then used to plan how many straws will be needed to build a bridge with a greater span which can support a given weight. Their design is then built and tested.