The fact that man has the ability to take materials from the surrounding world and join them, shape them and alter them to create amazing structures is most intriguing. The fact that our grade seven students can learn these design principles is even more intriguing. (Earl Sorensen)

While this may be true, let's not forget certain structures that were built without carefully considering forces ... for example: the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, popularly known as Galloping Gerty, opened to traffic in 1940. Travellers who were brave enough to drive across, said that it was like riding on a giant roller coaster because of the wild rocking of the bridge. Four months later, during a wind storm, the bridge collapsed. And this bridge disaster still has people talking, well arguing really, as physicists and mathematicians argue about the true reason that the bridge collapsed.

Who is right and who is wrong? Well ... one thing is for certain - when designing structures, don't forget to consider the forces - a little force called wind was ultimately what brought this bridge down.

"Just as I drove past the towers, the bridge began to sway violently from side to side. Before I realized it, the tilt became so violent that I lost control of the car ... I jammed on the brakes and got out, only to be thrown onto my face against the curb. Eye Witness - Leonard Coatsworth, a Tacoma newspaper editor Watch a cool video of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Bust-up! See our own bridge busting disasters!

"Precision and patience are essential" Standard Student after the bridge building and bridge busting experiences.