ESO Event Archive: Bridging The Gap

Description
This event tests students' abilities to build a lengthy, strong, and stable bridge from common materials

Number of Participants / Approximate Time
Up to 2 / 45 minutes

The Competition
1. Students will be supplied with a variety of common materials such as paper, tape, straws, pins, string, etc. at the Olympiad site. Teams are to construct a suspension bridge that spans the greatest possible distance and be able to support at least one chalkboard eraser.
2. Teams will have 20 minutes to construct their bridge. Materials may be altered in any way. A pair of scissors will be provided for use during the construction period but may not be used in the bridge's structure or as an anchor.
3. The bridge will be suspended on two similar supporting structures such as chairs or desks. All teams will have access to the official set of supports to view and measure during the construction period.
4. Under the direction of event supervisors, students will place one chalkboard eraser at the center and at a right angle to their bridge. The bridge must support the eraser for 10 seconds to be judged. Bridges failing this test will be disqualified. The eraser will be removed from the bridge before measurement.
5. No part of the bridge may touch the floor during judging or measurement. The bridge may touch the supporting structures only at its point of support. No additional bridge supports may touch the stationary objects. The bridge may not be attached to the stationary objects with tape or in any other way.

Scoring
The bridge spanning the greatest distance supporting the eraser for 10 seconds will be declared the winner. In case of a tie, additional erasers will be added until the strongest bridge is determined.

Last Updated: August 1, 1999