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Show .IT' nTTRY 2, 1983 Some Fine Bridge Builders At LHS By TOM BUSSELBERG - LAYTON London bridges falling down, falling down, falling down. London bridges falling down, my fair lady. THAT OLD childrens song may notve been on the lips of the dozens of Layton High School students who all built their own bridges, but the result was the same. In the end, all 120 or so bridges did come tumbling down. It wasnt by cannon fire or the huff or puff of a big bad wolf. Instead, it was modern technology and a machine with pistons that exert equal pressure on five different points, explains Mike Harris, a physics teacher and advisor for the project that brought together science students for the yearly effort. THE STRONGEST bridge was put together by Tim Eckleston, and weighed in at 1 ,572 pounds pressure before it came tumbling down. Thats school record is only really good--th- e about 100 pounds more than that, Mr. Harris says. Generally, you feel good if your bridge holds over 1 ,000 pounds. About a dozen bridges held over that, he continued, explaining that three made it into the elite "over 1,200 club. The bridges were really this year. I computed the all the bridges and it was in for average terrific. the 700-plcategory-tha- ts THEY REALLY did a good job this us year, competition was pretty fierce. As he explained it, the program is sponsored by Dr. Elliott Rich from Utah State University along with Dr. Robert Fife. Students heard lectures g from Dr. Rich about and students were encouraged to build them during the Christmas holidays when there was time for extended bridge-buildin- effort. PARTICIPANTS purchase kits with small monetary prizes awarded from the profits. Tim will receive $15 while other winners garnered $10 for second place and $5 for the other top entrants. In addition, the school receives a prize for every 25 bridges enrecords are kept and tered. State-widthen another $25 will be awarded to that winner. Its not just the money, Mr. HarThe value of it is the ris emphasizes. He addes of achievement. feeling that not only does such competition look good on a resume, but it helps identify those high school students with engineering aptitute and was put on as part of National Engineering Week. e, NOTING IT gives those students a small share of the limelight that so often is grabbed by sporting events, he went on, I really like this about it. Academic thing sometimes get put in the background. Heres to the bridge builders of tomorrow. Photos By Robert Regan mm'-- $ |