Toothpick Bridge Challenge

In class, for about a week, groups were created and tasked with the challenge of creating a bridge out of toothpicks. The point of the bridge was trying to make a bridge with the best weight to strength ratio; weight of the bridge to the weight of the batteries it can hold. My group was made up of Daniel D. , Dylan B., John R., and I. My group had a 72/1 ratio, strength to weight.

Here were the Criteria and Constraints:

Criteria (Goal!)
Build the bridge with the highest strength to weight ratio (most weight prior to breaking vs the weight of the design).

Constraints(Toothpick version)
-Bridge may not weigh more than 50 grams.
-Bridge must span a 12” gap.
-Bridge must be at least one toothpick length wide.
-Bridge must be at least one toothpick length in height.
-No more than 8 toothpicks touching in parallel at any point.
-Materials:
Construction Materials:
-One pack of 800 Count “Royal” toothpicks.
-Glue guns and glue
-Fabrication materials:
-cardboard and wax paper to prevent glue mess.
-graphpaper to layout design.
-Keep your workspace clean!
-Clean any messes you make!

My team came in third place with the 72/1 ratio; the first place had around a 400/1 ratio(insane) and then the second place team had around a 120/1 ratio.


 Here is a picture of the batteries and our bridge after we first tested it!

Here is a picture of our bridge while it was still in the process of being made! Our rival team leader was in this picture.