Congratulations to the winners of the Middle School STEM Fair! Take a look at their incredible experiments below:

1st Place - Ellah S., Grade 7 - Engineered a Vertical Lift Bridge

I created a Vertical Lift Bridge Model. A vertical lift bridge uses counterweights and cables, instead of hydraulics. Both move a section of a road that stays horizontal when it’s being raised up and down, just like an elevator. In my model, I made a river underneath so that cars can pass on the bridge, and boats under it. My counterbalance was a wheel and pulley system made with string, wheels and levers to move the middle part of the bridge up and down.

2nd Place - Colten W., Grade 7 - Designed an Egg Protection Carrier

The video that I sent in was the end result.

At first, I made a device that could secure the egg and prevent it from cracking from 5 feet, but when I checked again to see if it met the requirements, I noticed that it was more than 3 inches, so I had to try again.

The second attempt was the contraption in the final result video, but at first it didn't work. So I thought about what went wrong and decided to add extra support in the form of cardboard pillars to prevent the egg from going downwards and cracking.

3rd Place - Earl P., Grade 7 - Built a Coin Bridge

Q1: 2 inches

Q2: It’s strong enough to hold a LEGO person. It can also hold an eraser but it cannot withstand an eraser being dropped on it.

(LEGO Test Subject/Test Subjects height compared to bridge)

Q3: 48 quarters and 51 pennies = $12.51 (48/4 + 51)

Q3a: $18.765 

         = 12.51 x 0.06 x 25 

       I =  $18.765

Q3b: $31.275 ($12.51 + $18.765)

Q4: $176.275

 $100 (4.5 x 10)

= $45.00

= 45 + 100 = $145.00

= 145.00 + 31.275 = $176.275