Bridge Testing Data Sheet

Year 8 Technology — Building Bridges: Engineering Skills (Lesson 5)

Name:

Group Members:

Date:

🔑 Key Terms — Match the Definition

Draw a line to match each term with its correct meaning.

Stability

Load capacity

Force

Prototype

Structural failure

A push or pull acting on a structure

When a structure breaks, bends, or collapses

The ability of a structure to stay upright and balanced

A test model built to try out a design

The maximum weight a structure can support

📋 Part 1: Testing Data — Record Your Results

Instructions: Complete the table below as your group tests your bridge prototype. Record your observations carefully.

1. Bridge design name or description:

2. Stability Test — Gently push the side of your bridge. What happens?

No movement — very stable

Slight wobble — mostly stable

Significant movement — unstable

3. Weight Capacity Test — Record the weight added at each stage:

Test 1: _________ grams     Observation: _________________________________

Test 2: _________ grams     Observation: _________________________________

Test 3: _________ grams     Observation: _________________________________

Maximum weight supported before failure: _________ grams

4. Where did your bridge show the most stress or failure? Check all that apply:

The middle/centre of the bridge

The supports at each end

The joints or connections

The sides of the bridge

No visible failure point

5. Describe what the failure looked like using technical language. Use words like: force, compression, tension, bending, cracking.

💬 Part 2: Reflect and Improve

6. Did your bridge meet the design criteria? Circle your answer and explain why.

Yes, fully met the criteria

Partially met the criteria

Did not meet the criteria

Explain: ___________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

7. What was one strength of your bridge design? Use a technical term in your answer.

8. Propose one modification you would make to improve your bridge's stability or load capacity. Explain how it would help.

9. Complete this sentence to summarise your findings:

"Our bridge prototype was able to support _________ grams before _____________________.

The main reason for this result was ________________________________________________.

To improve the design, we would ___________________________________________________."

10. 🌟 Challenge: A classmate's bridge held more weight than yours. What is one question you would ask them about their design to help improve yours?