The physics of resonance
Tragedies of synchronized steps
The wobbly Millennium Bridge
Engineering safer bridges
What is the scientific term for when pedestrians involuntarily sync their steps to a swaying bridge?
What kind of feedback loop is created when a bridge's movement causes people to walk in a way that increases the movement?
artiteacher Time the crowd's footsteps to discover how walking in step can wobble a bridge.
artiteacher Pedestrians naturally sync their steps sideways to adjust to a swaying bridge.
How many people crossed London's Millennium Bridge on its opening day in June 2000?
What direction of movement caused the Millennium Bridge to be nicknamed the 'Wobbly Bridge'?
artiteacher The London Millennium Bridge
We match our steps to find our stride, And push the shaking bridge from side to side.
artiteacher A bridge's motion can force a crowd to act like a single, synchronized pendulum.
How many days after its grand opening was the London Millennium Bridge closed for safety modifications?
Which Japanese bridge experienced a similar sideways wobble during a festival in 1993?
The wobbly nickname: Londoners quickly nicknamed the Millennium Bridge the Wobbly Bridge after its shaky opening day.
Why do humans naturally adjust their stride when a bridge begins to sway sideways?
In what year did London's famous Millennium Bridge open and subsequently close due to swaying?
The amplification of a vibration that occurs when an external force's frequency matches an object's natural frequency. This phenomenon forced London's Millennium Bridge to close just days after opening in June 2000.