Diego Lynch
Andrew Hogan
Brandon Alvarez
Senior Project Proposal
Introduction:
Our finished project will be an eight foot long suspension bridge. Two metal cables will connect two metal beams on each side of the bridge. Suspended from a steel cord which will run the length of the walkway will be small steel beams capable of holding human weight. To prevent the two bigger metal beams from falling, there will be a cable welded to the top of each main beam. The cord will be welded to the metal frame which will run throughout the bottom perimeter of the bridge. A single cord will come down from each side of the upper cables and support the center of the walkway. It will create a dip in the bridge. In the corners there will be castors allowing mobility.
Physics concepts and what we will teach:
To be completely static and balanced all of the forces acting upon the bridge need to equal zero and cancel each other out. When a person steps of the bridge it bends inward, however, it stops bending before it hits the ground due to the natural tendency of the materials we used in the creation of the bridge to return to their original shape. This is the elasticity of the materials, the want of anything to remain in its original shape. The forces that are acting upon the materials when someone steps on the bridge are tension and compression. Tension is a pulling force and compression is a pushing force. If referencing our drawing, one can see that the steel cables are in tension. There are four main cables to hold up the six foot support. They are going from the top of each support to the frame at the bottom. When someone walks on the bridge, the support towers want to cave in but the steel cables that are in tension, prevent them from falling. The steel beams because of the pressure from the cables will be in compression. Because of its properties steel works very well in compression and will keep its shape.
All of the forces and what we are teaching will be beside the bridge so as the guest walks across, they will learn what forces are being exerted.
Materials:
6 2”x4”x8’ Steel Beams
3 4”x6”x8’ Steel Beams
28’ of ¾” metal cord
12’ of 1” metal cord
22 3.75’x6”x2” Steel Beams
Welding Equipment
6 Castors
Timeline:
Diego
Andrew
Brandon
Andrew Hogan
Brandon Alvarez
Senior Project Proposal
Introduction:
Our finished project will be an eight foot long suspension bridge. Two metal cables will connect two metal beams on each side of the bridge. Suspended from a steel cord which will run the length of the walkway will be small steel beams capable of holding human weight. To prevent the two bigger metal beams from falling, there will be a cable welded to the top of each main beam. The cord will be welded to the metal frame which will run throughout the bottom perimeter of the bridge. A single cord will come down from each side of the upper cables and support the center of the walkway. It will create a dip in the bridge. In the corners there will be castors allowing mobility.
Physics concepts and what we will teach:
- Equilibrium: a force diagram with XYZ axis
- Tension: tension will be illustrated through the steel cables
- Compression: explained with the steel through little pictures
- Elasticity: use the knowledge gained when the bridge bends under your weight to give context to elasticity and compression
- Safety Regulations: we hope to have the bridge put in a playground so we will have to comply with California’s strict park regulations
To be completely static and balanced all of the forces acting upon the bridge need to equal zero and cancel each other out. When a person steps of the bridge it bends inward, however, it stops bending before it hits the ground due to the natural tendency of the materials we used in the creation of the bridge to return to their original shape. This is the elasticity of the materials, the want of anything to remain in its original shape. The forces that are acting upon the materials when someone steps on the bridge are tension and compression. Tension is a pulling force and compression is a pushing force. If referencing our drawing, one can see that the steel cables are in tension. There are four main cables to hold up the six foot support. They are going from the top of each support to the frame at the bottom. When someone walks on the bridge, the support towers want to cave in but the steel cables that are in tension, prevent them from falling. The steel beams because of the pressure from the cables will be in compression. Because of its properties steel works very well in compression and will keep its shape.
All of the forces and what we are teaching will be beside the bridge so as the guest walks across, they will learn what forces are being exerted.
Materials:
6 2”x4”x8’ Steel Beams
3 4”x6”x8’ Steel Beams
28’ of ¾” metal cord
12’ of 1” metal cord
22 3.75’x6”x2” Steel Beams
Welding Equipment
6 Castors
Timeline:
Diego
Andrew
Brandon
