Engineering & MachinesApplied Mathematics
The Wobbly Bridge
London's Millennium Bridge swayed because walkers fell into step
A brand-new bridge across the Thames started swaying under its first crowd. What made it rock, and why did walkers make it worse?
You'll find out
- Why a new bridge shut after two days
- How a crowd can fall into rhythm
- What fixed it, and what's still debated
Why it matters
Crowds, fireflies and nerve cells can all fall into rhythm, and a bridge built without that in mind can end up swaying.
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