Forty-one teams took part this week in the “2009 Physics Bridge Challenge,” an annual Popsicle stick bridge-building competition hosted by the Society of Physics Students, with the winning entry holding more than 38 pounds of sand.
Teams competed Nov. 12 in the McMichael Science Building to see which bridge could support the most weight. To qualify, a bucket and a two-kilogram mass must have been supported by the structure. After a team qualified, SPS remembers began adding sand until the bridge collapsed.
The contest tasks teams with using no more than 100 Popsicle sticks and glue to construct bridges at least 100 centimeters long.
Marshall Beringer, Kara Salpeter, and Kelly Molin won the grand prize for their effort. “The Day After Veteran’s Day Bridge” held 17.5 kilograms of sand, which not only won them the 2009 contest but also broke a five-year record placing them as the top performing bridge team since 2005.
The second place bridge, “Puente Pichy,” constructed by Monica Kobelinski, John Furniss, and Rafi Rayes held 13.6 kilograms.
Emily Fournier and Justin Gianni made third place with “Engel Bridge,” which held 13.1 kilograms.
The teammates will receive a small prize from the Society of Physics Students and extra credit in class.
