Hands-on engineering principles were put into practice in a recent project, as juniors and seniors in Travis Kieff ’17’s physics class designed and built pasta bridges that tested both creativity and analytical skill. Students began by designing truss bridges on paper, carefully calculating load distribution to refine their plans and determine the appropriate thickness for each structural member. With only raw pasta and glue permitted, they then brought their designs to life, applying classroom concepts in a tangible and engaging way.

The bridges were tested and ranked based on strength ratio—how much weight each structure could hold relative to its own mass—highlighting both efficiency and durability. Among the standout performances, juniors Miles Couvillon and Clayton Guste built the strongest bridge, holding an impressive 53.7 pounds, while senior Peyton Davis and junior Allen Kammer achieved the top strength ratio at 51.2, with a bridge that held 46.5 pounds despite weighing just 14.5 ounces. Junior Winston Beahm and senior Matt Scalise earned recognition for constructing the lightest bridge at 5.7 ounces, finishing fourth overall. The project not only reinforced key physics concepts but also encouraged problem-solving, precision, and innovation, as students were graded on both their engineering calculations and final performance.