Engineering
Why Suspension Bridges Sway Instead of Snapping
Quick fact
Most suspension bridges are built to sway a meter or more sideways in strong winds — and that flexibility is exactly what keeps them from snapping, because it lets the bridge absorb and scatter the enormous energy of the wind.
Why this is interesting
You’ve probably felt a bridge tremble under your feet, but have you ever wondered why it doesn’t just crack and fall apart? The secret is that the bridge is actually designed to dance.