Forces and bridges

P6/7 were looking at the forces of compression and tension that act upon a bridge when a weight is applied.  We completed a practical challenge where we had to build a bridge over a span of 1m to support at least 500g using only paper and tape.  We quickly realised that the tension of the bridge needed to counteract the compression to support the weight without buckling and found that reinforcing the paper using concertina folds and using strong shapes like triangles and arches meant we could hold heavier weights. Great team work and use of their thinking skills.