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Project 2
Beams and Rigidity: How does the vertical height of a beam affect its rigidity?

Purpose

RigidityThe amount an object will deflect when supporting a weight. The less it deflects for a given amount of weight, the greater its rigidity. is a measure of how much an object, such as a bridge, will deflect when supporting a weight. Bridges must not only be strong, but they must also be fairly rigid to keep the platform level without sagging. In this project, you will construct three beam-support bridges using beams of different vertical heights. You will test each one and compare the results to determine whether increasing the height of a beam can make this bridge design more rigid.

Level of Difficulty

Moderate.

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1. Introduction
2. Different forces can act upon one object
3. The arch redistributes forces to maintain equilibrium
4. Project 1 - Arches and Beams: Which is strongest?
5. Project 2 - Beams and Rigidity: How does the vertical height of a beam affect its rigidity?
6. Design Your Own Experiment