Physics Class Competes for Five-Figure Scholarship
Instructor Kathy Miller puts her students’ bridges to the test on Thursday, Oct. 29, before the class submitted the models for inspection.
The Poplar Bluff High School AP physics class is competing regionally in a MoDOT-sponsored model bridge building contest for a potential $10,000 civil engineering scholarship to a heartland university.
Students were supplied 15 pieces of balsa wood, a bottle of glue and some string, then given four weeks to create a bridge design of their choosing between 16-20 inches long and 2-9 inches wide, with the ability to hold at least 7 pounds. The resulting projects will be judged based on structural efficiency on Thursday, Nov. 19, in Cape Girardeau.
The annual competition, intended for juniors and seniors in the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Southeast District, was established 12 years ago. This marks the second year in a row Kathy Miller’s physics class has participated in the contest, though PBHS’ involvement goes back even further.