Sponsored by The Learning Center, Student Services, Vanier College, Room B205, Phone 744-7891

Objective: To build a practical bridge that allows vehicles to pass from one side to the other.

THE BRIDGES WILL BE TESTED FOR THE GREATEST LOAD, BUT THE WINNING
ENTRY WILL HAVE THE GREATEST EFFICIENCY FACTOR (LOAD/ MASS RATIO)

Prizes:
First prize -most efficient bridge -$125.00
Second prize -second most efficient bridge -$75.00
Third prize -third most efficient bridge -$35.00
Fourth prize -bridge holding the greatest load -$25.00

Prize will also be awarded for craftsmanship and aesthetics.
Please note that all decisions are final.

Who can enter?
Any individual or team of individuals can enter. We recommend teams of two to four people. Vanier College or high school students are eligible to participate.

Registration?
All contests must register at The Learning Centre , Room B205, before 4:00p.m. on Friday, November 8, 2002

Completion Date?
Judging of the bridges will take place on November 13 at 12:00 p.m. in the Quiet Cafeteria (N131), N Building. Bridges must be delivered, in a protective box, to the Quiet Cafeteria (N131) before 10:00 a.m. on the morning of the same day.

What materials can be used?
The only materials allowed are provided FREE by The Learning Centre (B205)
- one package of spaghetti noodles
- one bottle of white carpenter's glue
The construction must not contain any other materials than those specified by the contest rules. The noodles may be cut, carved, notched, steamed, boiled and curved. The bridge must not be painted or stained.

What are the physical specifications of the bridge?

A. Mass: The total mass of the completed bridge MUST NOT exceed 225 grams at weigh-in.
B. Size: Length: The gap to be spanned is 40.0 centimeters (+/- 0.4cm). The bridge must be at least 43 centimeters and no more than 45 centimeters long. Width: The bridge must be at least 4.5 centimeters wide and no more than 7.0 centimeters at its widest point.Height: The bridge should not exceed 25.0 centimeters in height.

Road: The bridge is meant to be practical. It must include a roadbed that provides a CONTINUOUS UNOBSTRUCTED passage from the supporting surface on one side to the supporting surface on the other. The official Learning Centre model car, approximately 7 cm X 2.5 cm X 2.5 cm, will be passed from one side to the other and must be able to pass smoothly and without obstruction. The roadbed can pass on or through the bridge, but if the car cannot pass, having encountered an obstruction or having fallen through, it will be considered impractical.

The roadbed must have an opening of at least 1 cm in diameter through the centre of the bridge which allows the judges to insert a loading device.

How will the judging occur?

- The contest organizers will ensure that the bridges submitted conform to the contest rules prior to the competition on November 13 at 12:00 noon.
- A loading device will be provided to contestants when they register and collect their glue and noodles. The loading device is 3.5 cm by 3.5 cm by 10 cm and has a 1 cm hole which must be aligned with the hole in the bridge must allow the judges to insert the hook from below and fasten a threaded wingnut from above.
- The hook will be fitted with a load which will be gradually increased until bridge failure occurs.

The following are the conditions which represent bridge failure:
a) The bridge collapses and falls with the load;
b) The bridge does not collapse or break but bends (deflects) 5 centimeters or more;
c) The bridge breaks in such a way that it no longer supports the load.