by Rob Siarot, Kamehameha Schools Maui
Teacher Introduction
The creation of bridges is one of man’s greatest accomplishments, as it helps bring communities, towns, and cities closer together. Bridges provide people the ability to traveling over water, mud, land masses, or any other obstruction once thought impossible to traverse. Science, engineering, and technology make it possible for people to carry tremendous amounts of weight safely over these bridges. There are many different types of bridges, each built with its own purpose, budget, and design. The purpose of this WebQuest is to introduce you to some basics on the planning and design which takes place, even before the construction of a bridge even begins. At the conclusion of this WebQuest, you will be able to explain the forces which impact a bridge, be able to select a design, and complete the actual construction of your structure.