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Physics

 

Balsa Bridge Building Contest

 

 
 

 

 

2011 Bridges

www.balsabridge.com

Bridges featured in this contest must meet the following conditions, as spelled out in the contest rules, a document that has seen but one minor change in more than thirty years of use:
 
-built using rectangular balsa stock not exceeding 3/8"x1/4" in cross section and commerically available glue

-have a mass not exceeding 100.0 g at the time of testing

-have a minimum span of 40 cm

-have clearance for a 5 cm cube

-have clearance for a 40 cm x 2 cm board between the pedestals

-have a roadway of at least 40 cm in length and 5 cm in width across which a Hot Wheels-type vehicle will pass

-have a superstructure that will accommodate the test frame

Mass supported: 55.05 kg

Mass supported: 18.45 kg

Mass supported: 2.50 kg

Mass supported: 75.20 kg
9th place

Mass supported: 23.50 kg

Mass supported: 62.50 kg

Mass supported: 42.70 kg

Mass supported: 137.35 kg
4th Place

Mass supported: 140.25 kg

3rd place

Mass supported: 32.11 kg

Most attractive 2nd place

Mass supported: 61.50 kg

Mass supported: 75.60 kg

8th place

Mass supported: 25.05 kg

Most attractive 1st place

Mass supported: 23.00 kg

Workmanship/design 2nd place

Mass supported: 37.35 kg

Mass supported: 33.70 kg

Mass supported: 14.55 kg

Most attractive: 3rd place

Mass supported: 2.50 kg

Mass supported: 13.85 kg

Mass supported: 12.25 kg

Mass supported: 34.55 kg

Mass supported: 2.50 kg

Most unusual: 2nd place

Mass supported: 32.30 kg

Mass supported: 31.35 kg

Workmanship/design: 1st place

Most unusual: 1st place

Mass supported: 46.75 kg

Mass supported: 25.15 kg

Mass supported: 39.55 kg

Mass supported: 9.00 kg

Mass supported: 25.30 kg

Mass supported: 47.60 kg

Mass supported: 26.05 kg

Mass supported: 93.80 kg

6th place

Mass supported: 63.75 kg

Mass supported: 99.35 kg

5th place

Mass supported: 25.50 kg

Mass supported: 18.55 kg

Mass supported: 55.15 kg

Mass supported: 73.60 kg

Mass supported: 2.50 kg

Most unusual: 3rd place

Mass supported: 74.90 kg

10th place

Mass supported: 31.60 kg

Workmanship/design: 3rd place

Mass supported: 179.90 kg

2nd place

3rd strongest bridge of all time

Mass supported: 88.65 kg

7th place

2011 Contest Winner

All-time record holder

219.95 kg