Discover Science and Maths Award 2016

As part of our Science programme we took a look at Bridge Building and the properties and characteristics of the materials used, We looked at some famous bridges and their uses. We then constructed our own model bridges and tested their strength.

The first model we used was made from paper and we estimated that it would hold 5 science books. We used 4 sheets of paper for this experiment. We tested its strength using Science books and found that it held 10 books!

Honey Ryan, Elisha Joseph, Niamh Hyland, Kripa Molly Anu & Nicole Jeremiah.
Fourth Class
Ms Kelly

Our second model we used was made from card. Six pieces of card were used to make the bridge. It held five novels and one science book. We built our bridge using five pieces of card to make our supports and the last piece of card we put on the top. It was great fun!

Ellen Staunton & Orla Murphy
Fourth Class
Ms Kelly

Bridge Building

We learnt to build bridges out of paper with Gabrielle Fullam, a transisition year student who is teaching us about STEM as part of her work experience. We learned that the strongest bridges were made with smaller folds in the paper .We had to measure to copies to make sure they were all equal in length .We did a drop test which included someone dropping a phone, dictionary and pencil case, that was medium weight, from the height of thirty centimetres. If it flattened then it was weak if it stayed the same it was strong .We then compared the three strongest in the class and videoed it. They all passed!

Kirsty Pykes & Aoife Lane
Sixth Class
Ms Bohan

Designing and Building a Bridge from Scoil Mhuire on Vimeo.