History
Thousands of years ago, which ancient civilization became the world's best arch bridge builders?
Who are the Ancient Romans?
What action represents pressing your palms together during the icebreaker activity?
What is compression?
Which famous steel arch bridge earned the nickname "The Coat Hanger" due to its shape?
What is the Sydney Harbour Bridge?
What type of bridges did the Romans build out of stone arches specifically to carry fresh water into their cities?
What are aqueducts?
What is the name of the single most important stone placed at the exact top center of an arch?
What is the keystone?
Located in West Virginia, what bridge is known for being one of the longest single-span arch bridges in the world?
What is the New River Gorge Bridge?
Built with 19 stone arches in the Middle Ages, this famous bridge featured houses, shops, and a chapel on top of it.
What is the Old London Bridge?
What are the wedge-shaped blocks that make up the rest of an arch curve called?
What are voussoirs?
Before arches were used, what simple bridges were built out of wooden logs or flat stone slabs?
What are beam bridges?
Built in England in 1779, this structure was the world's first arch bridge made entirely of cast iron.
What is The Iron Bridge?
What heavy stone or concrete supports are built at both ends of the bridge to resist the outward thrust of the arch?
What are abutments?
Arches perform best under compression, but what pulling force do stone arches struggle against?
What is tension?
What is the famous stone arch bridge in Italy that is lined with colorful shops and is still standing today?
What is Ponte Vecchio?
Because traditional stone arch blocks wedge tightly together under gravity, what substance is NOT needed to hold them together?
What is glue (or mortar)?
Modern steel arches allowed bridges to cross wide rivers and bays without requiring what in the water?
What are stone pillars (or middle supports)?