2009 Physics Olympiad

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Pasta Bridge

Designed and run by the Society of Women in Physics

The information below is subject to change as more event tips and details are included. Please monitor this page regularly.

Faculty coordinator: Professor Jennifer Ogilvie [jogilvie@umich.edu].

Event Description:

In this activity, students will design and construct a pasta bridge prior to the competition. Students will have to consider various design principles to build the most efficient bridge possible to satisfy the specifications listed below. The weight of the bridge is unrestricted, but lighter, stronger bridges will earn the most points. At the competition, students will have a chance to make repairs caused by the journey, take a quiz relating to static equilibria, and put the bridges to the test.

Event Location and Time:

Intro Labs
10:30AM - 11:50AM and 1:00PM - 2:50PM

Apparatus and Materials:

Bridge Specifications for work prior to competition:

• The bridge is to be constructed out of store-bought pasta and glue. White glue, hot glue, super glue, rubber cement are permitted. No epoxies are to be used.
• The bridge must span a 15" chasm between two support surfaces.
• The bridge shall not exceed 20" in length, 6" in width, nor extend more than 1" below the surface of the support surfaces.
• The bridge must be designed to support a 8"x2"x2" loading bar. This apparatus needs to be placed perpendicular to the bridge at the midpoint of the gap between the surfaces. It can be placed on top of the bridge or through the bridge at the student's discretion.

During the competition we will supply:

• Super glue for last-minute repairs.
• Scratch paper and pencils for the quiz.
• Balance.
• Loading bar/weights for loading the bridge.
• Safety goggles.

Event Rules:

• Every team must have two to three members.
• Upon arriving, students will have five minutes to complete any last-minute repairs to their bridge with the provided super glue.
• While the bridges are drying, each team will collectively complete a 10 question quiz. 15 minutes will be allotted for the quiz.
• Prior to the bridge trial, each bridge will be weighed to determine its mass.
• During the test of each bridge, one student will add weight to the bucket until the bridge breaks. The bucket and loading bar will be weighed to determine the total supported mass.

Judging Criteria:

• For the bridge, points will be awarded according to the following formula: (Total supported mass)/(Mass of the bridge).
• The quiz will be worth 25% of the highest score for the bridge. Each team's quiz score will be added to their score for their bridge.
• Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals will be awarded to the teams with the highest three scores, respectively.

Olympiad Contact Information Professor Georg Raithel University of Michigan, Randall Laboratory, email: graithel@umich.edu Michelle Young FOCUS Administrator, email: mamurn@umich.edu

The University of Michigan. All rights reserved. The Physics Olympiad Logo is a Registered Service Mark in the State of Michigan The University of Michigan Physics Olympiad has no connection, association, or implied authorization by the USOC, the IOC, or the IPC. Revised: March, 2009.