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Explain the need for tall towers on a suspension bridge to ensure stable equilibrium.

a) Towers provide stability; no effect on equilibrium.
b) Towers reduce stability; enhance equilibrium.
c) Towers enhance stability; no effect on equilibrium.
d) Towers and stability are unrelated in a suspension bridge.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Towers enhance stability and ensure stable equilibrium on a suspension bridge.

Step-by-step explanation:

Towers enhance stability; no effect on equilibrium. In a suspension bridge, tall towers are needed to ensure stable equilibrium. The towers provide stability by distributing the weight of the bridge and the load it carries, such as vehicles and pedestrians, to the ground.

The tall towers help to increase the bridge's stability by increasing the distance between the deck of the bridge and the ground. This increased distance provides a longer lever arm, which leads to a larger torque and enhanced stability.

Furthermore, the tall towers allow for the suspension cables to hang at a significant height above the bridge deck. This helps to reduce the deflection of the cables and maintain the bridge's stability during various loads and environmental conditions.

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