Engineering Solutions
What device absorbs vibrations in bridges or buildings?
Tuned Mass Damper
Which bridge collapsed in 1940 due to aeroelastic flutter?
Tacoma Narrows Bridge
What is the term for the number of cycles per second in oscillatory motion?
Frequency
What happens to amplitude at resonance?
It increases dramatically
What is the formula for period (T) of a mass-spring system?
T = 2π√(m/k)
What is the purpose of aerodynamic shaping in bridge design?
To reduce wind-induced oscillations
What caused the Millennium Bridge in London to sway?
Pedestrian synchronization
What does SHM stand for?
Simple Harmonic Motion
What type of damping brings motion to rest quickly?
Overdamping
Given T = 2 s, what is the frequency?
f = 1/T = 0.5 Hz
What structural element increases damping in suspension bridges?
Suspension cables or dampers
What was missing in the design of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge?
Aerodynamic considerations
What shape does a position vs. time graph of SHM form?
Sine wave
Which case results in long-lasting oscillations?
Underdamping
What is the unit of the spring constant k?
N/m
Which material property helps dissipate energy?
Damping
Which Vancouver bridge is designed to safely sway?
Capilano Suspension Bridge
What is the unit of frequency?
Hertz (Hz)
What’s an everyday example of damping?
Car shock absorbers
If mass is doubled, what happens to period?
It increases
How do engineers model complex oscillations?
Using software simulations or physical models
What phenomenon occurs when applied frequency matches natural frequency?
Resonance
What is the restoring force in a mass-spring system proportional to?
Displacement
What does a damped oscillation look like on a graph?
Amplitude decreases over time
What is the maximum velocity in SHM proportional to?
Amplitude × angular frequency