5  Twenty-minute programs
Grade(s):  9 -12
Curriculum:  Science/Technology

This series illustrates a problem-solving methodology that has broad applications  Each program presents a practical problem in physics and economics with examples rooted in the accomplishments of Isambard Kindgom Brunel (1806 - 1859), in his time, one of the world's greatest engineers.  The Bristol University Library houses Brunel's notes and many of his original designs and hosted a special course for teams of 170 high school technology students from throughout England. They were challenged with creating solutions to problems inspired by Brunel's work within specific guidelines for materials, deadlines and costs.

Four programs focus on the problem-solving processes followed by the students. The last program documents the problem solving process followed by engineers constructing the Euro Tunnel, which connects England and France

Each program includes historical documents and demonstrations of basic principles of physics inherent in the problem using both models and animation, and an "over-the-shoulder" look at the problem solving processes employed by the students as well as the final "test" - do their solutions work!

Program Summaries:

1.  The Great Divide  (20:35)
The Clifton Suspension Bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, spanning the Great Avon Gorge, at Bristol, England was completed five years after his death in 1859. It was Brunel's first bridge design. Our teams of students are given a challenge to design and build their first 1.5 meter suspension bridge in three hours within strict criteria for the use and cost of materials. Expanded Program Notes.

2.   A Watery Grave  (20:50)
The S.S. Great Britain, designed by Brunel was launched in 1843 and boasts a double first, she was the first iron steamship to cross the Atlantic, and the first ship to make that trip using propellers. The students are presented with the challenge of designing and building a boat which can hold 1 person; float for ten meters across a pool, and have some means of retrieving a tin of baked beans from one half meter below the surface. Expanded Program Notes.

3.   A Hefty Problem (20:30)
The I. K. Brunel Railroad Bridge weighing 1000 tons and 150 meters long was built in 1859 on the banks of the river Thames and then floated on barges to its permanent site.   The problem presented to the students is to lift a 56kg concrete block off the floor and move it to another location. One team of students is given two hours to create a printed design. Another group of students will build their design. Brunel personally supervised this procedure communicating with large teams of workers, and the students soon learn that communicating a design to those who will do the construction is just the first challenge in any project.  Expanded Program Notes.

4.   Easy Does It (21:39)
140 years ago the biggest ship ever built was launched  on the river Thames.   The Great Easton, designed by Brunel, had to be launched sideways since the river was too narrow for the length of the ship to allow a normal head-forward launch.  The problem confronting Brunel was controlling the great ship as it slid sideways into the water. But it stuck! The problem confronting the students is to design and build a mechanism to lift a marble one-meter off the floor, transverse 30 centimeters, and then take 20 seconds to lower the marble to the floor. Expanded Program Notes.

5.   Down and Under (20:03)
The program begins with the opening of the Euro Tunnel, which spans the English Channel between England and France and then moves to historical footage of the first tunnel built under the river Thames.  Today it is used for the underground, but it was originally built for foot passengers and horse-drawn vehicles. The tunnel was the work of Mark Brunel, the father of I. K. Brunel who was the engineer in charge. This program traces the similar problems solved by present day professional engineers in building the Euro Tunnel system.   Expanded Program Notes.

Note: Current timings include expanded copyright notice.

Expanded Program Notes:

1.  The Great Divide
The Clifton Suspension Bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, spanning the Great Avon Gorge, at Bristol, England was completed five years after his death in 1859. It was Brunel's first bridge design.

Our teams of students are given a challenge to design and build their first 1.5 meter suspension bridge. Their bridge must be strong enough to carry one person; be attractive; be the cheapest bridge possible; and be as strong as possible and the bridge must be designed and built in three hours within strict criteria for the use and cost of materials. The students must use materials "purchased at a "store". with a selection limited to: bamboo canes; plastic tubing; collate' or balls of string 

Using information from research materials and demonstration models, the program identifies the specific components of the problem and presents the results of the student projects.

2.   A Watery Grave 
The S.S. Great Britain, designed by Brunel was launched in 1843 and boasts a double first, she was the first iron steamship to cross the Atlantic, and the first ship to make that trip using propellers.  She has been restored and can be seen today in dry-dock in Bristol. 

On the second day of their course, the students are presented with the challenge of designing and building a boat which can hold 1 person; float for ten meters across a pool, and have some means of retrieving a tin of baked beans from one half meter below the surface.

The materials they have to build their boat are: a large piece of hardboard; some plastic tubs and plastic sheeting; the lids of the tubs; a couple pieces of doweling of different thickness; drawing pins, two knitting needles; some braising rods; some elastic bands; wire clothes hangers; a tin can; some bamboo cane; wooden pegs and two short pieces of wood - and they also have a variety of miscellaneous materials ranging from balloons to glue.  The students have three hours to complete their boat.

3.   A Hefty Problem
The I. K. Brunel Railroad Bridge weighing 1000 tons and 150 meters long was built in 1859 on the banks of the river Thames and then floated on barges to its permanent site.   Brunel personally supervised this procedure communicating with large teams of workers.

The problem presented to the students is to lift a 56kg concrete block off the floor and move it to another location.  The materials provided were steel constructions kits including steel strips and the plates nuts and bolts to put it all together; fishing line with a breaking strength of 25 kg; pulleys and spindles, casters and tools. 

One team of students is given two hours to create a printed design that another group of students will build.  It seems to be a choice between pulleys and levers and the students learn that communicating a design to those who will do the construction is just the first challenge in this project. 

4.   Easy Does It
It's the 31st of January 1988 and exactly 130 years ago the biggest ship ever built was launched  on the river Thames.  The Great Easton, designed by Brunel, had to be launched sideways since the river was too narrow for the length of the ship to allow a normal head-forward launch.  So the ship was built parallel to the bank.  The hull weighed 12,000 tons and was the heaviest thing anyone had ever been called upon to lift.  Constructed on two massive cradles, the problem confronting Brunel was controlling the great ship as it slid sideways into the water.   He employed the principle of friction and used a slipway set at an angle of 1 in 12.  But it stuck!

The problem confronting the students is to design and build a mechanism to lift a marble one-meter off the floor, transverse 30 centimeters, and then take 20 seconds to lower the marble to the floor. The materials available are; a variable electric power supply to drive a motor with a built-in gear box which can be switched on and off with a toggle switch or a pressure sensitive micro switch; a pulley; some string; a piece of cardboard; some plastic channeling and a length of wooden dowel.    Everything can be joined together using glue, double-sided sticky tape, ordinary sticky tape, panel pins and pop rivets. 

The program concludes with an explanation of how Brunel solved his problem, and the "test" of the student solutions. A group of teachers also tried their hand at solving this problem. Are they using the same materials?

5.  Down and Under
The program begins with the opening of the Euro Tunnel, which spans the English Channel between England and France and then moves to historical footage of the first tunnel built under the river Thames.  Today it is used for the underground, but it was originally built for foot passengers and horse-drawn vehicles. The tunnel was the work of Mark Brunel, the father of I. K. Brunel who was himself was the engineer in charge.    Tunneling is dangerous because it can collapse while you are digging it, so Mark Brunel pioneered the idea of a tunneling shield allowing workman to build the tunnel while protected with a wrought iron shield. This tunnel 150 years later is the most watertight in the London Underground System.  This program traces the problems solved by present day professional engineers in building the Euro Tunnel system.