What is the toothpick?

Bridge from a toothpick is an example of engineering on a small scale to teach students about structural power, capacity, durability and creativity. In many classes, workshops and competitions, participants build a toothpick bridge that can cover a wide river, keep a strong load or resist shaking. Depending on experiments and mistakes, they are introduced into architecture, construction and building engineering.

One of the best learning methods is a practical approach. Instructors and professors at all levels are returning to a project inviting students to build a bridge with only toothpicks. In addition to the creation of a toothpick bridge, they may have to meet other requirements, such as the use of only two anchor points, only forming triangles, keeping the bridge so long, etc. The rules also specify whether flat or round toothpicks are allowed, what type of adhesive and the limit of the number of teeth. The contest is granted the most connected weight, unusual design, the lightest bridge, or one that spans the widest length. TriangleThe íky are a unique shape, because unlike squares they evenly distribute weight without shock. The faeces bridge uses a number of triangles in two parallel walls that connect with other triangles. Even young children can complete the lattice bridge hung between two books and test its power by placing the pennies in its center until it is threatened.

Other options for toothpicks use other shapes to distribute the focused weight. The arch transmits the weight to the edges without bending, as if it were equal braces. One type of arc is called a loss; Its reverse curve is made by hanging a chain from two points. The suspension bridges have high towers that connect long cables to the horizontal road. The towers act as anchors, stiffness of the bridge and the use of several dozens outside the road.

building any style of bridge toothpick encourages you to expand your knowledge of strengthTensile, torsion or twisting, design, load on load, cost management, difference between compression and voltage, weight distribution, etc., whether you are an amateur science student or graduates. There are even computer simulations where the bars represent toothpicks, so students can practically build and test the bridge without waiting for glue to dry.

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