GEOMETRY
MRS. NAGIS
2nd Quarter Project
General Directives
Our 2nd quarter project is going to involve some research and some creativity. We're going
to learn about bridges and build our own. The project is divided up into 5 parts as outlined
below.
Part I Bridge Questionnaire - Due Tuesday, November 18th
Part II "The Great Bridge Controversy" magazine article with questions
- Due Tuesday, November 25th
Part III Bridge Questionnaire II - Due Wednesday, December 10th
Part IV Construction of your own bridge according to directions
- Due Wednesday, December 17th
Part V Bridge-Breaking – Thursday, December 18th
Point value - 100 points
Part I 40 points
Part II 10 points
Part III 15 points
Part IV 20 points ( Appearance, complexity, originality)
Part V 15 points (Durability)
WON'T IT BE FUN??? REMEMBER, IT'S GEOMETRY FOR ENJOYMENT
AND CHALLENGE!!!
GEOMETRY
MRS. NAGIS
2ND Quarter Project
Bridge Questionnaire
Answer the following questions on bridges in complete sentences on your own paper.
1. What is the definition of a bridge?
2. A bridge for carrying water is called a .
3. A bridge for carrying a railroad or highway traffic is called a .
4. A bridge for pedestrian traffic is called a .
5. The very first bridge was an act of nature. Describe one example of how nature
contributed a bridge.
6. Primitive man was the first bridge builder. Describe one of his bridges.
Bridges, for thousands of years, were used to transport people and water. However,
with the coming of a certain invention, bridge building became an exact science. It
became necessary to build bridges that were stronger and covered a larger span.
7. What was this important invention?
8. In bridge building, one geometric shape is used for support because, theoretically,
it is rigid. What is this shape?
9. On November 7, 1940, a U.S. bridge collapsed. It had been nicknamed "Galloping
Gertie". Find:
a. the name of this bridge.
b. place.
c. type of bridge.
Following are some famous bridges. For each find:
a. Location.
b. Designer.
c. Year completed.
d. Type of bridge construction.
e. Something famous about it.
10. Eads Bridge
11. Brooklyn Bridge
12. George Washington Bridge
13. Golden Gate Bridge
14. Mackinac Bridge
15. Why were bridges covered?
GEOMETRY
MRS. NAGIS
2nd Quarter Project
Bridge Questionnaire II
There are several main types of bridge construction. For each type give the following
information:
a. A brief description of the type of construction.
b. Name of a bridge that utilizes that construction and its location.
c. Sketch a picture of it.
16. Beam Bridge.
17. Cantilever Bridge.
18. Suspension Bridge.
19. Truss Bridge.
20. Arch Bridge.
21. Sketch a design of your own bridge and then name it.
GEOMETRY
MRS. NAGIS
2nd Quarter Project
Straw Bridge Directions
Materials:
1. Forty (7 3/4)in. plastic straws.
2. Any number of straight pins.
3. One 3 x 22 inch strip of poster board.
Rules:
1. Straws may be cut, bent or folded in any way.
2. Only listed materials may be used. (No glue.)
3. Straws may not be filled with pins.
4. Poster board may not be rolled.
Specifications:
1. The bridge must span 19 inches. Therefore, do not cut off any of the length.
If you do it may fall through the span.
2. The bridge must have a road surface wide enough for a Matchbox car.
3. Weights will be placed in a box containing two straps placed in the middle of the
bridge.
4. The bridge must be able to support a minimum of 1000 g (2.2 lbs).
5. The score you will receive will be determined by the amount of weight on the
bridge when it collapses.
GEOMETRY
MRS. NAGIS NAME
"THE GREAT BRIDGE CONTROVERSY" article questions.
1. Who suggests the demise of the Golden Gate Bridge?
2. What is his background?
3. How does he justify his suggestion? By means of a model? Other means?
4. Who is his assistant?
5. What famous 19th century bridge builder is mentioned?
6. Which of his bridges is/are mentioned?
7. How did the next generation of bridge builders feel about his work?
8. Who is Robert Scanlan?
9. Does the article imply that bridge builders are primarily mathematicians or
engineers?
10. What happened on November 7, 1940?
11. Is there a visible record of what happened on that date?
12. Do Scanlan and McKenna agree as to what really happened that day? Explain.
13. Does McKenna say that the behavior of bridges relies on linear equations or
nonlinear equations?
14. Does that make the behavior more or less predictable?
15. Do you see a resolution to the "Great Bridge Controversy"? Explain