Teaching Resources

Previous year's resources can be found on the Cambridge University Engineering Department Website here

All of these resources contain student worksheets, an introductory powerpoint presentation, worked examples and teaching notes with additional information about the exercises and concepts discussed. The teaching notes also contain lists of required knowledge and equipment needed for students to carry out the exercises.

The aim is that these resources should be complete enough that teachers can download and use them without any additional research or too much preparation. All the resources are aimed at Year 10 students.The Cambridge-Maths and Cambridge-Physics sets have been tested in schools and have been improved based on the feedback received. The rest of the resources are as yet untested so please make sure they are complete and suitable before using them and feel free to contact me if there are any questions.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the resources please contact kmh43@cam.ac.uk

Bridge Design - Cambridge and Newcastle

This set compares the cities of Newcastle and Cambridge and the differences this would involve for the design of a mojor bridge project. Students work through one of four worksheets to find the best bridge design given a client brief. This set also talks about who should be considered when designing a major construction project and includes ideas of sustainability and whole-life costing.

Download this set of resources here

Geometry - Mathematical Bridge Cambridge

This set looks at the Geometry of Queens' College Mathematical Bridge and uses trigonometry and Pythagoras' theorem to calculate the size of the bridge and create a scale model using art straws.

Download this set of resources here

Geometry - Tyne Bridge Newcastle

This set looks at the Geometry of the Tyne bridge, the arch of which can be approximated to a quadratic equation. Using this equation, students calculate the dimensions of the bridge and create a scale model using cardboard

This set doesn't have worked examples yet. Downlaod this set of resources here

Forces - Construction of Tony Carter Bridge, Cambridge

This set looks at the changing forces during the construction of a cable-stayed bridge such as the Tony Carter Bridge in Cambridge. Students use force and moment balancing to calculate the forces in the bridge cables and then test their theory with an experiment using Newton meters, weights and a cardboard bridge deck.

Download this set of resources here

Forces - Construction of Tyne Bridge, Newcastle

This set is similar to the above, using force and moment balancing to find the forces in support cables during the construction if the Tyne Bridge

Download this set of resources here