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Thursday, September 21, 2017

Watch this kid show his dad how to make Leonardo da Vinci’s self-supporting bridge

Using a series of wooden poles and beams, this kid shows his dad how to build Leonardo da Vinci's (wiki) self-supporting arch bridge, also known as the emergency bridge, without nails, screws, rope, glues, notches, or any other fasteners.

They've made this with 5 sections, but you could make it with many more - each section increases the height as well as the length. I'm sure there's an upper limit to the number of sections that would work, but I don't know what it is.


Here's a set of instructions for a popsicle stick version: Da Vinci Popsicle Stick Bridge, and here's a wooden kit.

In 1482, before he was famous, Da Vinci (April 15, 1452 - May 2, 1519) was looking for work. He sent his resume to the Duke of Milan, listing several useful skills he could provide, including the bridge:
I have a sort of extremely light and strong bridges, adapted to be most easily carried, and with them you may pursue, and at any time flee from the enemy; and others, secure and indestructible by fire and battle, easy and convenient to lift and place. Also methods of burning and destroying those of the enemy.
Related posts/links:


NPR has translated Leonardo's To-Do List.

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