Steps in Building a Popsicle-Made Arch Bridge
An ice cold Popsicle on a hot summer day remains a classic part of the summer. Instead of tossing your Popsicle sticks into the garbage, re-purpose them and build an arched bridge. Building a bridge from Popsicle sticks continues to be a common project often attempted in science class. Some classrooms even compete to build the Popsicle stick bridge that can hold the greatest weight without collapsing. This may sound complicated, but do not be discouraged. If you follow a few simple instructions you, too, can make a masterpiece of engineering out of your discarded summer treats.
Instructions
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Build the base of the bridge. Lay one Popsicle stick on the table. Put wood glue on half of the stick. Position the next Popsicle stick on top with half on the previous stick and half hanging off the previous stick. Put wood glue on half of the third stick and slide half of the third stick underneath the free half of the previous stick. Continue layering in this way until you have formed a line of Popsicle sticks the desired length of your arch bridge. Follow this same procedure to make a second line of Popsicle sticks the same length as the first line. Clamp the glued joints together with spring clamps and allow to dry overnight.
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Connect the two lines of Popsicle sticks by putting a dot of glue on opposing ends of one Popsicle stick. Place one end on one line of sticks and the other end on the second line of Popsicle sticks. At this point, the two lines of Popsicle sticks should be connected by a single Popsicle stick intersecting the parallel lines. Proceed to glue the necessary Popsicle sticks to the base of the bridge so the entire length of the lines of Popsicle sticks are connected by numerous intersecting sticks. It should like a Popsicle stick road. Clamp all of the glued joints and let dry overnight.
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Build the arch. Place a stick on the table. Put a dot of wood glue on one end. Angle a second stick up few centimeters and press it on top of the dot of glue. Continue laying Popsicle sticks and gluing them in an arch shape the same length as the wood road. Make a second arch using the same procedure. Put spring clamps on the glued joints and let dry overnight.
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Connect the two arches. Take a Popsicle stick and put a line of glue down the length of the stick. Press the entire stick against the center stick of the arch. Do the same to the second arch. Put a dot of glue on both ends of a new Popsicle stick. Press one end gently against the stick that you just applied to the top of one of the arches and press the other end gently against the stick you applied to the second arch. Now one stick should be joining the two arches. Continue laying Popsicle sticks in this manner the entire length of both Popsicle sticks, about 14 sticks. Glue a stick to connect the two arches about 11 centimeters from the top, flat section of the arch. Continue connecting the two arches with Popsicle sticks and space them evenly over the entire arch. Let dry overnight.
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Finish your bridge. Put a dot of glue on the inside end-sticks of your two arches; a dot of glue should now be on four sticks. Place each glue-dotted end of the arch gently against the proper ends of the Popsicle road. The left ends of the arch connect to the left sides of the road and the right ends of the arch attach to the right sides of the road. Glue both ends of a Popsicle stick and gently press one end against the edge of the bottom road of the bridge and the other end against the top of the arch. Evenly space and attach the Popsicle sticks 3 centimeters apart the entire length of the bridge to connect the arch to the base and provide additional support. Let dry overnight.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit ice cream lolly image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com
