Building Big: Bridges

Name: Karl

1. What type of bridge did the Romans build? (What shape?)

The Romans built arch bridges.

2. What is the stone at the top of an arch called

It is called a keystone.

3. Why did the Toccoma Narrows bridge collapse?

The Toccoma Narrows bridge collapsed due to strong winds. The materials used on the
bridge weren't sturdy enough because engineers wanted the bridge to be cost-efficient.

4. Why does iron, when stretched, collapse?

When iron stretches, tension causes surface cracks, which causes bridges to collapse.

5. What bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn and what type was it?
It is the Brooklyn Bridge and it was a suspension bridge.

6. What is the device called to borrow below the river bottom so that the towers of a
suspension bridge sit on solid ground.
The device is called a caisson.

7. The problem with stone bridges included (3 answers).

Stone is heavy, expensive, and it takes a while to build.

8. The first Iron Bridge was built in this Country

It was built in England.

9. In 1770 Smelting coal helped create cast iron. Pieces could be molded in sand from
molten metal.. Machinery, Tools, and bridge pieces could be fabricated and assembled
later. What was the name of this time period.
It was the Industrial Revolution.
10. Iron Bridges failed because:
They were weak under tension.

11. When a train crosses a truss bridge, what force is always on the bottom member?
On the top member?
Tension is on the bottom member and compression is on the top member.

12. Cantilever bridges are very strong, but expensive. What type of bridge is more
efficient for a long span?
A suspension bridge is more efficient for a long span.

13. What type of bridge transforms tension in a cable to compression in a tower?

A suspension bridge

14. In 1883, what bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world?
The Brooklyn Bridge.

15. What 3 forces must the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco withstand?
The bridge must withstand earthquakes, strong winds, and swift tides. The forces acting
on the bridge is tension, compression, and pulling.

16. What color is the Golden Gate Bridge?

International orange