Balsa wood bridge

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/balsa-wood-bridge

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Ochroma pyramidale
2. What is the typical density range?40-160 kg/m³
3. What makes balsa wood so light and strong for building bridges?Balsa wood has a very low density, usually between 40 and 160 kg/m³, and its cells are filled with air. This gives it a high strength‑to‑weight ratio, so it can carry loads while staying light.
4. How do students learn about forces when they build a balsa bridge?They study static equilibrium, where all forces and moments must balance to keep the bridge still. They also look at tension and compression to see how the forces travel through the structure.

Static Equilibrium: The condition where the net force and net moment acting on a structure are zero, resulting in no acceleration or rotation.
Tension and Compression: Opposing forces; tension pulls apart, while compression pushes together, both critical in structural analysis.
Truss Structure: A framework of interconnected triangles designed to distribute loads efficiently and provide high strength-to-weight ratios.