Answers to focus questions are available. The collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was a catastrophic yet educational event. Most modern bridges are made of steel. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge was struck by a freighter and collapsed on a foggy morning in May of 1980. Describe where tension and compression occur on each type of bridge.
Many bridges are icons for their city or region.
Compare and contrast a beam bridge and an arch bridge. List at least three ways they are similar and three ways they are different. The U.S. government requires states to inspect and rate all bridges at least once every two years. Describe ways that technology can be used to make monitoring and inspection of bridges more efficient and effective. The earthquake in October 1989 in the San Francisco Bay area caused great structural damage to many of the bridges in the area.