Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse
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Objective
I can analyze the engineering failures that led to the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.
Part 1 of 4
Warm-up video
Engineer Khan · 6:00
We don't generate video — this one is by Engineer Khan on YouTube. The practice questions and exit ticket below were drafted by AI for this objective, and every question is editable in the teacher guide.
Part 2 of 4
Key concepts
3 concepts
- 1
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed due to a phenomenon called aeroelastic flutter, which caused the bridge to twist violently in the wind.
- 2
A key design flaw of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was the use of plate girders instead of more traditional trusses, making it more susceptible to wind effects.
- 3
Following the collapse, wind tunnel testing became a standard practice in bridge design to identify and address potential aerodynamic issues.
Part 3 of 4
Practice
7 questions
What was the primary design change implemented by Leon Moisseiff to reduce the cost of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and how did this contribute to its collapse?
What is aeroelastic flutter, and how did it contribute to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse?
Part 4 of 4
Exit ticket
Quick comprehension check
“Describe two engineering design flaws that contributed to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse.”
Sample answer included in the free materials
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