Galloping Gertie: The Collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge

[zoomerone]

Well done. I show this video to my physics class as an introduction to their bridge project.

[Tsarevna303]

If it only takes a light of wind to make it self-propelling...wouldn't it be a good idea to purposefully create a structure like this that twists and bends? The kinetic energy could be harnessed for clean power.

[zillagecko1998]

Poor doggy :'(

[zillagecko1998]

I would have liked the old bridge if it was a little safer...

[bladeofbattousai]

People must have been different back then--who today would look at a bridge that bucked and twisted in the wind like that and think, "I think I'm going to drive over that."

[hwyfan]

Excellent job making the documentary.

As for the thin bridge design- that was just following along a trend that existed for bridges opened in the thirties. The single deck GWB in NYC didn't have a truss originally, the Bronx Whitestone didn't either. The Tacoma bridge could have survived if it had appropriate cable stays and openings in the side girders to let the wind go through.

[q0zi]

Answer is fucking 9

[MishuTaste]

First they spent as little money as possible to build the bridge, then they spent more money to hire engineers to study what went wrong. Then they paid a bunch of workers to salvage the metal. Does that make sense? Why not spend enough money to make a solid bridge in the first place? Duh.

[reeses12100]

what Is this!!

[NinjasxPwn]

NO, TUBBY, WHYYYYY?! :'(

[snigel4321]

You're probably going to get a lot more hits on this since Google has their riddle of the day :

Your name is Galloping Gertie. How many furlongs long are you?

[yasseeninator]

@snigel4321 Thats how I ended up here

[Nikkie2711]

Great video. Good job!

[itomas]

I'm not sure why anyone would think the narration is so good. Afterwards, hopefully, the narrator learned how to end every sentence without tailing off in volume and clarity. I found it difficult to listen to. It sounded a lot like a young student reading the text for the first time.

[Minodora4]

@itomas We made this video in 8th grade, so yes, young student :)

[itomas]

@Minodora4

Sorry for the negative comments. I don't know what came over me.

[sydneyhope]

@Minodora4  And you did a wonderful job!

[Buff78]

@itomas You seriously have too much time on your hands and issues of inadequacy. Go read Swift's "Tale of Tub," before you continue you ill-conceived career as a critic.

[itomas]

@Buff78 Buff, I thought I had already apologized for my ill-conceived comments. (Maybe I only sent the apology directly to the narrator.)

[SpottedleafCCRVMK]

It's scaring me how that I've been over the bridge that was built over that bridge. It really scares me now, knowing about the dog and everyone else, laying in the water, WAITING.

I'm actually shaking right now. I never want to go over that bridge ever again....

[haltrman93]

@SpottedleafCCRVMK "Waiting?" What the hell are you talking about, haha. And who is "everyone else?" You're making it sound like hundreds died, stop your tweaking...

[SpottedleafCCRVMK]

@haltrman93 ;A;. Sorry. I was in a bit of a creeped out mood. Now I actually use better grammar in my sentances o3o

Sorry, LOL. Sorry. I use the wrong words ._.'

[hmmidkuh]

This is amazing its like physics

[Bporto5479]

Your video is excellent! I show it in my middle school engineering class in Massachusetts & the kids are always amazed by it. Great job!

[Coolpleck]

What's the song at 3:00 ?

[seizetheweakened]

gerdie makes more sense

[crazzynez]

i fucking hate Delgado for assigning this gay shit, ima have to do it over the break, boring as fuck :(

[FireJigglypuff2310]

So... one of the most catastrophic tragedies in the world of engineering... and it's remembered for how it changed how engineers think about architecture? *shivers*

[htc6600]

Excellent documentary. Succinct language is a rarity these days and you did that very well.

[manaman70]

The bridge connects the Kitsap Peninsula with the Tacoma area. It mostly benefited the towns just on the other side of the bridge.

I have never heard someone call the older of the two current Narrows bridges Sturdy Gertie either, probably a long forgotten nickname dating from just after it was built.

[NearDeathExperienc]

Well done on your effort in this project!

[74project]

"oh no, its unsafe and unstable... we'll keep it open until we fix it..." : /

[denelson83]

I believe the real cause of the TNB collapse in 1940 was a phenomenon called "aeroelastic flutter".

[CaptainPointless]

@denelson83 Actually it was harmonic resonance driven by vortices formation.She's right the wind drove an oscillation in the bridge close to/at the bridge's natural frequency. Technically what happened is an example of Simple Harmonic Motion.

[kmdilli]

This was VERY well done. My 16yo DD has known this story from her youth because I had been introduced to it in mine. I couldn't have explained it better or shown her the films as you have. THANK YOU.

[britneyslut]

4 years befor my mom was born

[clayton998]

yes a bouncing bridge VERY safe yes isn't it!!

[earthshakingfart]

That loser should have gotten his dog out of there, what a loser

[PepperzEntertainment]

a dog was trapped in the automobile :( thats sad.....

[hbunnie1120]

This is a great documentary.

[shortflim]

very good doc.

[FireAlarmMan458]

In one video of the whole incident happening, The man made the dog run out of the car and then a few minutes later, He ran out. But you said that he left him in the car.

[jezza181]

Thank you. I always wanted to know what happened to this bridge.

[1DanielChristensen]

we just watched this is physics of sound to demonstrate waves.

[newts2usatiera]

GREAT work on this documentary ! Excellent use of documents and archival footage. Thank you !

[oMgmAooNmanNe]

why didnt that asshole just take him dog with him!!!! stupid idot ^^ poor dog died :(

[dddproject]

who leaves their dog in a car on a collapsing bridge? seriously.

[laserpablo]

Several attempts were made by two people to save the dog. The dog became frightened and would not come out of the car. Attempts to drag the dog out of the car resulting the owner getting bit. Finally, he did get the dog out of the car but the dog broke loose and ran back into the car.

[dslgunner1977]

@laserpablo I always felt bad for the poor dog "Tubby". I know they tried their best to save him, and under the circumstances, I imagine it would have been a difficult task. Still, I feel a little bit sad he wasn't saved, every time I hear about this bridge. :(

[sydneyhope]

@laserpablo Thanks for putting out that explanation, better to know that the owner at least tried to save his dog. and that others cared enough to try too.

[transworld20]

a proffessor wouldn't leave a dog in a doomed car! you know that and I know that. The dog was too scared to leave the comfort of the back seat, I remember this story.

[Szgerle]

@dddproject

People not willing to die for a dog.

[DAILEYericCaryUSA]

GOD DAMN the main stream media.

I've heard of "galloping gurdi" a hundred times but this is the first time I ever heard of Sturdy Gurdy.

Every thing on TV is lies.

Kill your TV

[speener]

Great documentary that gives the basics to the uninformed.

[Zimminger]

Informative; I like that. But most films don't show the beginning; view lengthwise down the roadway and then cut to the collapse. They miss what's happening, which is a sort of quantum effect. It begins with a first harmonic, the center of the span twisting. When it can store no more energy in that state, it breaks into the second harmonic with each end twisting opposite. But it briefly breaks into a third harmonic with each end twisting up as the middle twists down. Then it fails.

[molokaicreeper]

That's because they stopped filming at some point. Most people didn't expect the bridge to collapse, and they were wondering whether they were just wasting film. They continued to record, about two minutes before the bridge completely collapsed. If you look at other videos of the collapse you will see more detailed footage. But as much as 2 minutes before the collapse, is a great accomplishment, great detail.

[joeyjumper94]

This is a wonderful documentary!

[dawnrun911]

Great voice, very clear.

[999pingu111]

Did you just disable embedding?

[molokaicreeper]

What a wonderful documentary thank you for posting this!!!!

[foreverwaiting22]

4:26 RUN TUBBY RUN!!!!

[heydanno777]

Poor Tubby :(

[britneyslut]

@heydanno777 that basterd left the dog :( .

[chrs168]

Great documentary. But why the hell didn't he get his dog out of the car? What an idiot!

[rubber4532]

some people tried but the dog was terrified and tried to bite them

[DncQueen89]

woooow this is junior division? its really great. the naration is really clear.

[alterman156]

The Bronx Whitestone Bridge had the same tendency to undulate as the Tacoma Narrow Bridge did. After the collapse of the latter, the former was fitted with braces to maintain stability. In 1988 dampers were installed on the bridge to improve stability. In 2004, the braces were removed and a fairing was installed in its place. Also I believe the deck of the Bronx-Whitestone bridge has been replaced.

[HanKatarn]

Who did the voice for this video? She sounds like she has a cold!

[mrmango786]

Funny voice, but I like it. :) And nice documentary.

[WildWestRosie]

Very nicely and professionally done! Kudos to both of you!

[vegqueen120]

yayyy raluca and koyo!

you guys should've won.

[tuttt99]

Excellent job. You should have gotten first place.

[Armorbeast]

Very good and in light of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis, this is a reminder of how a tragedy like this can happen as the bridge design in Minneapolis had its detractors as well who were ignored. You did an excellent job and whoever got first must really have been impressive to have topped you on this one...I hope you're considering a career in news as you're very good at reporting.

[Minodora4]

Actually the people who got first were from the same school as us, and yes they were very good and it was quite close. Theirs is on the "Great Seattle Fire."

This was a group project although we only had one narrator; my partner and I split the work. She did a lot of the actual piecing together of the documentary.

[Armorbeast]

Still, this came out excellent. Someone above spoke about hitting the P in the audio but I think this lends more to it sounding more human rather than as someone being paid with years of training. It was very well crafted and your entire team deserves praise. The person narrating was both clear and very professional sounding...you all get a thumbs up from me and hope you do more projects as this country needs more history lessons as entertaining and well crafted as this.

[geedoctor]

You might get first if you correct your grammar. They were from the same school as we were, not us.

[laughwest101]

Augh...you should have won!!! The Great Seattle Fire on didn't have such clear narrations.

I love this! Nice job.

[tallhat23]

very interesting and nice presentation

[hayburner1969]

Excellent. My kids were even able to understand.

[timbabcock]

Great video. Lots of good information.

[Rillington2000]

Fantastic documentary.

[ycdelmir]

Bad audio, my eardrums pop everytime she hits a "P"

[treckarz]

Very nice; lots of facts, well-organized, and enjoyable to watch. And good job with the interview!

[misskisch]

Well done, ladies! NHD 2008?

[laughwest101]

2007. They were Triumph and Tragedy...

[misskisch]

lol no i know, i was asking if they were doing NHD in 08.

[laughwest101]

Oh, lol. Sorry. ^.^ Raluca did...but she didn't make it to State. :'(

[misskisch]

I know, I was at State with her. Who is this?

[misskisch]

Whoops, meant Regionals--I was at Regionals with her. Are you doing NHD this year?

[laughwest101]

Yup. As an exhibit though. Um...I'm a 7th grader that's doing a group exhibit at RJH? ^.^ We're going to state!!! Yay~