How Do I Form a Hypothesis for My Popsicle Bridge?
- 1). Brainstorm about what bridges do. They connect land masses, letting large vehicles and freight trucks pass over them. They need to be rigid, strong and durable.
- 2). Think about the questions you might ask about bridges. For example, you may want to test which bridge structures can support the most weight. Write down your hypothesis as a question.
- 3). Draw several bridge structures on grid paper with a pencil and ruler. Come up with at least three viable structures you could build from Popsicle sticks. Brainstorm about their strengths and weaknesses, making notes on each diagram.
- 4). Turn your hypothesis into a statement. For example "Which bridge structure holds the most weight?" could become "Bridges using triangles in their structure are the strongest."
- 5). Build each of your bridges from Popsicle sticks and glue. Structures might include bridges made entirely of connected triangles, a simple flat bridge and a bridge with squares in its structure.
- 6). Test your hypothesis by adding stress to each bridge. This may include using weights, drenching them in water and seeing how many toy cars each bridge holds. Write down whether your hypothesis was right or wrong.
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