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How to Make a Sturdy Popsicle Stick Bridge

For young engineers, building a Popsicle stick bridge is an ideal way to test the theories of physics and engineering in a safe and methodical environment. Building these lightweight models will allow you to work through different ideas and different theories as to what structures are most efficient at bearing weight. The shape of the triangle resists compressive force to such an extent that a relatively small and lightweight triangle will be able to bear far more weight than other shapes of equal size. Consequently a successful Popsicle stick bridge will incorporate triangles into the design, utilizing the tensile strength of the basic shape.

Things You'll Need

Wood glue
40 Popsicle sticks

Instructions

- 1
  Lay a Popsicle stick flat on the work surface. Spread wood glue on half of one side of another stick and lay that stick glue side down on the first stick, so that half of the new stick overhangs the end. Spread more wood glue on half of one side of a third stick and slide that under the overhanging end of the second stick. The ends of your third and first stick should just be touching. Continue laying and gluing sticks in this way until you have a chain of six sticks in a row.
- 2
  Repeat this process to make another chain of six sticks, then make two more chains of four sticks each. Lay a chain of six next to a chain of four to create the two parallel sides of a trapezium. Connect the two chains by placing a diagonal Popsicle stick at each end and gluing it into place. Create a triangle by placing another diagonal Popsicle stick beside where the first stick joins the four-stick chain and gluing it into place so that it connects to the six-stick chain. Do the same at the other end of the chain.
- 3
  Where the second diagonal joins the six-stick chain, place another diagonal Popsicle stick to rejoin the four-stick chain at roughly the middle of the bridge. Complete this triangle with a final diagonal Popsicle stick. Repeat this whole process on the other pair of chains to create two sides of the bridge.
- 4
  Stand the two sides of the bridge up and ask assistants to support them in a vertical position. Glue a Popsicle into place connecting the two six-stick chains, keeping them apart by just under the length of a Popsicle stick. Add another Popsicle stick at the other end to keep the two sides parallel. Support the two sides with vertical aides. A piles of books will suffice.
- 5
  Glue more horizontal Popsicle sticks across the top of the structure, beginning at both ends and adding one in the middle. Two triangles should then be made with horizontal Popsicle sticks joining the two four-stick chains; then a single diagonal Popsicle stick should be glued into place connecting two of the corners at each end of the structure.

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