Why did the Millennium Bridge Wobble?
An explanation of resonant frequency and how it relates to the millennium bridge.
The Clown Fish
Duration: 2:42
Views: 1199
Experiments based on information and observations which we have condensed from what we have seen as a team over many years in both lessons and elsewhere.
This is a very well put-together film, exploring its subject in some depth, and it makes good use of archive film (though we did replace some YouTube clips with similar public domain material from Archive.org).
My main criticisms are pretty nerdy, to be honest. As it happens, I was involved in making a BBC2 programme about the Millennium Bridge, many moons ago, and the science was remarkable because what happened there wasn’t a simple resonance effect. Resonance is thoroughly studied, and of course well-known to engineers. What happened with the swaying bridge was a related phenomenon, but one a whole lot more peculiar. There are some good notes about it at the Wikipedia page on the Millennium Bridge.
The second example in the film is the famous Tacoma Narrows suspension bridge collapse, which again is often cited as an example of structural resonance. And again, it isn’t, as (again!) Wikipedia describes.
This is complex stuff, but it’s surprising how many magazine articles and books — and films — get the science wrong. Wikipedia looks pretty good to me for both of these situations, and it’s a shame some of the nuances weren’t worked in here.
Nevertheless, it’s a very competently-made film.
— Jonathan
At my age 48 years old you still learn some thing new,keep it going,for if you do not learn you become very poor in this world.
OMAR, 25 May 2008
I really thought that you explained things clearly, but you could have chosen a much more interesting topic. What was with the first guy - he blinked far too much for his own good (maybe he needs a facelift). Anyway - well done on this feeble atempt at a good video.
Radnas Bahjitani, 26 Mar 2008
good, well explained and concise
John Andrews, 19 Mar 2008
Great explanation ... easy to understand and an interesting subject.
Karen Sennett, 17 Mar 2008
BORING!! YOU GUYS SUCK!
Steven, 17 Mar 2008