Q&A for How to Build a Bridge with Popsicle Sticks

You can use regular craft glue, or superglue as well; it is just that a hot glue gun speeds up the entire process, especially useful for the less patient builder!

Around 150-200 sticks, but you can make smaller or larger trusses depending on the material you have

A 50 cm long, well-constructed bridge like this could hold a few kilograms of weight, and 8 kg would probably be the limit. However, it's not the weight placed on a bridge that matters, it's at the force with which it comes into contact with the bridge. For example, if you were to drop a 4 kg ball on the bridge from two meters high, the bridge would weaken or even collapse.

Depends on how big you want to build it. If you want to make it small, use 100 - 150 sticks. If you want it bigger, 250 - 400 sticks.

You can speed up the entire process by using a hot glue gun, and asking friends for help. Hot glue gun glues dry substantially faster because of the hot temperature. In fact, you could make different sections of the bridge with friends, and later join them all together!

It depends on the glue you use and how well you construct it. Some people have created bridges that can hold over 100 lbs.

No. You need a lot to make a strong bridge.

This bridge will hold about 8kg which is approximately 17.5lbs, but will break if a 5lb weight is dropped on it. It also depends on how well-constructed the bridge is.

If you're talking about the truss walls, then you will need someone to hold it for you so you can glue it on with hot glue. If you're using white glue, which takes longer to set, then you will need to get something to hold it up.

It depends. It could be any size. Generally it is preferred to use bigger ones as it will take up more space, and there would be less to build. They could be colored if you like, but they do not have to be.

No, but you must use something sticky to hold the sticks together.

Hot glue from a glue gun is the strongest and best glue to use for this project.

It depends on how big and/or elaborate you make it, but usually around 150-200 sticks are needed.

It usually depends on how big or small it is. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Around 35 cm, or 6 inches, so around 3 popsicle stick lengths. You can make it whatever size you want, though.

It will be strong as long as the load is distributed equally. Make sure there are no gaps in the bridge.

No, the sticks will break if you try.

If you're talking about the truss walls, you will need someone to hold them for you so you can glue it.

No. The longer it is, the more work you have to do, and you have to focus a lot on the force going down on the members. A bridge can be 30cm long, but if it's too high the tension going down on the underside of the bridge will make it collapse.

Yes, Elmer's glue would work. You could probably use any glue.

A truss bridge, whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a structure of connected elements usually forming triangular units.

Put triangles on the bottom to reinforce it and put a lot of sticks on the top in a triangle also put sticks on either side of the truss.

You can build it with either, but it will be easier, quicker, and likely more structurally-sound with larger Popsicle sticks.

If you're talking about the bridge itself, you can just put it on a scale that's large enough to hold it. If you're wondering about how much weight it can hold, just add small weights onto the deck, little by little. If it bends to around 45 degrees, take all the weights off and add the weights up. That will be the "weight load".

It would take approximately 30-40 minutes to build. You need about 20 minutes for the hot glue to dry altogether. And depending on how long it takes you to arrange the Popsicle sticks, 10-20 minutes of working time would be needed.