Bruce Students Successful at the 2017 Spaghetti
Bridge Competition
Each year
the Engineers and Geoscientists of Manitoba hold a spaghetti bridge competition.
The goal is simple: build the strongest structure from 350 grams of spaghetti
and glue. With this in mind, the grade 7 science students explored the Forces
& Structures unit with pasta and wood glue in Mrs. Bouchard’s and Mr.
Fisher-Smith’s classes. At the end of the unit, the entire grade 7 class
entered their structures in competition at Kildonan Place on Thursday, March
9.
At the
mall, the students waited patiently as volunteers from the Engineers and
Geoscientists measured each group’s bridge: did the students meet the required
parameters of length, height, and mass? After completing registration, the
engineers carefully placed each team’s structure in the hydraulic press,
affectionately known as the “Dream Crusher”. In seconds, the bridges were
stressed to the max and students eagerly recorded the maximum mass held by
their bridges while the judges gave some advice on the construction. Every
kilogram supported by bridges was tallied by the organizers who later used this
total to make a donation to Winnipeg Harvest!
After three
days of competition among students from across the province, Bruce students did
extremely well. The team of Igor, Steven, and Korbin won the grade 7 level and
received certificates and $100.
In addition
to the grade 7 team, many grade 8 students participated in the contest as well,
entering their structures on Saturday, March 11. The team of Katryna and Miree
won the grade 8 level and also received certificates and $100. In addition,
everyone who participated in the spaghetti bridge building competition will be
celebrating with a pizza party sponsored by the Engineers and Geoscientists of
Manitoba.
Congratulations
Bruce students!
Submitted:
Mr. Fisher-Smith, Bruce Middle School.
