Destruction of the Tacoma Narrows bridge - chaotic vibrations?
Q. Any science graduate will have been shown the classic footage of the bridge vibrating and collapsing. But were these vibrations chaotic? The bridge vibrated so drastically due to being excited at a composite resonant frequency. However, were these vibrations strictly chaotic? Chin Kit Kit:- Thanks, although I realised this. What I want to know is if the actual vibration, as well as being at resonant frequency, were chaotic also.
Asked by Omstarts - Mon Nov 17 04:26:19 2008 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. An interesting new angle on this old disaster! The vibrations were induced by the shedding of vortices, which we normally think of as a chaotic event. However, that may not be true for this case, firstly because vortices can be shed in a well-known pseudo-periodic fashion called a von Karman vortex street (try a web search for that). Secondly, once a structure starts to move, it in turn then influences the flow pattern over it so that the shedding of vortices may well be linked to the oscillations of the bridge. (Fluid-structure interactions are a relatively recent topic in computational fluid dynamics). So, I would say that these vibrations were not chaotic. I wonder if anyone will disagree!
Answered by James P - Mon Nov 17 16:45:43 2008

what is a good financial investment for these chaotic times?
Q. 1. the dollar is about to go into freefall with trillions in unpaid for spending and TARP(bailout related) scandals. 2. other currencies are shaky (see Russia and Japan). 3. Oil is at 5 year lows 4. stock market is in serious trouble or will stagnate around 8500 for several years 5. Russia could flood gold market to pay its needs, thereby crushing gold prices. 6. China is in serious trouble with inability to maintain 7% growth to keep its growing workforce employed. So where is the best place to make money if the world is going to POT?
Asked by RL-America - Sun Dec 28 23:13:51 2008 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Gold is good, others have mentioned this, but you may also want to consider an indexed annuity, if your saving for retirement. This will give you the benefits of any market upswings on a month to month basis and you will not suffer the losses during negative months. Try the annuity shop. You could also consider a Universal Indexed Life Insurance policy, it will act in a similar manner.
Answered by craigerdean - Mon Dec 29 02:06:22 2008

Do chaotic masses in motion realize there infallibility to cease their own motion?
Q. Chaotic masses equalling humans, and Motion equalling self-destructive behavior. The realization of a percentange not of the whole, does not count towards the mass in question
Asked by andrew - Wed Apr 1 22:45:40 2009 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Humanity is not a single organism, so "it" has no awareness of self. The individuals making up humanity are self-aware, but the entire collective as a whole is not. Therefore, humanity as a whole has no way to realize anything. So, if "the realization of a percentange not of the whole, does not count towards the mass in question", you have limited the possible answers to one - no.
Answered by poldi - Wed Apr 1 23:11:52 2009