Concept:
● Study the principles of bridge construction
● Road bed and car add realism to bridges
● Add Load Cells to see dynamic loading as car traverses bridge

The Bridge Set includes all the I-beams and connectors required to build the structures shown on this page. Special cord locks allow tensioning of cord (cables) for cross bracing. A flexible plastic road bed clips to the cross-beams and, using load cells, the tension and compression of each element can be displayed in real time.

Students can build several types of fundamental bridges, including Howe, Pratt, and Warren bridges.

Build different scale bridges
Students will learn the advantage of building taller bridges. Here, the larger bridge is constructed with a #4 I-beam on the diagonal, while the smaller bridge uses a #3 I-beam on the diagonal.

Both of these bridges can be built with the ME-6991 Bridge Set.

Add load cells to measure Static Forces anywhere in the structure
Forces measured by Load Cells are displayed on a computer using PASCO Capstone™ Software. A positive value represents compression.

 I-Beams key into the load cell and are fastened with thumb screws.

Design your own Roller Coaster
PASCO's Bridge Set allows students to design and build their own roller coaster for detailed studies of conservation of energy and centripetal force. The flexible track is perfect for building hills, valleys and even a loop! Car with low friction ball bearing wheels minimizes energy losses. Measure the speed of the car using photogates or a Motion Sensor.

PASCO Capstone™ graph shows support forces exerted on the track as the car goes up and over the loop.

 Add Load Cells to measure the forces needed to support the track.

The Waddell "A" Truss uses a cord (cable) for the center vertical member.Waddell "A" Truss 1 m long.

Deck Truss 80 cm long.