Final answer:
Building suspension bridges is expensive due to the complex design, materials, and maintenance required. The Golden Gate Bridge exemplifies the costs and engineering involved, whereas the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge underscores the high stakes of both financial and human costs when engineering fails.
Step-by-step explanation:
Building suspension bridges is generally an expensive undertaking due to the scale, complexity, and materials required. For example, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge is a prime instance of a large scale suspension bridge which required substantial investment and engineering prowess. These bridges are designed to distribute weight along cables to maintain structural integrity over long spans. The initial construction cost is high, but so is ongoing maintenance, especially considering factors like corrosion, which has historically caused catastrophic failures such as the collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967. Therefore, while the design of suspension bridges incorporates advanced mathematics and science, it also demands a substantial financial outlay both initially and over the lifetime of the bridge to ensure safety.
The Golden Gate Bridge, like many suspension bridges, was a monumental project that utilized rigorous design processes incorporating physics, such as studying forces and resonances, to ensure longevity and stability. By contrast, a bridge like the Tacoma Narrows, which collapsed due to flawed design and the resonance phenomenon, demonstrates the dire consequences of inadequate engineering and the high costs not just in financial terms, but also in terms of human lives.