Question

Write some of the advantages and disadvantages of each of the bridges for the community. Think about which parts will help the community, and which parts will not help. If the bridge is meant to carry cars, it might be too expensive for your tender. Checklist for investigating bridges Is the bridge for cars? Is the bridge for people? Is the bridge too expensive for the tender? Can the bridge be built strong and high enough so that it is not washed away by floods? Can the bridge be built so that it is stable and does not sway? Can the bridge be built long enough so that it can reach or span across the river? Is the bridge strong enough so that the villagers can walk safely across? Yes No Remember that the bridge has to solve the community's problem. In technology, we call this fit-for-purpose. In this case, it means that your bridge has to be strong and high enough to carry people and not cars. However, your bridge has to be strong enough to withstand floods, which are common in KwaZulu-Natal. Your bridge must also be stable, so that it does not sway and cause old people and children to fall when (2) they walk across. It should have a structure that can span a wide.​

Answer 1

Assuming that the bridge is meant for people and not cars, here are some advantages and disadvantages of each of the bridges for the community:

Suspension Bridge:

Advantages:

Can span long distances, making it useful for crossing wider rivers.

Allows for a high clearance above the water, reducing the risk of flooding.

Can be designed to be aesthetically pleasing, potentially attracting tourists to the area.

Can provide a safe and convenient way for people to cross the river.

Disadvantages:

Can be expensive to build and maintain, potentially making it too costly for the community.

Can be affected by strong winds, making it potentially unsafe during storms.

Can be difficult to build and require specialized skills and equipment.

May not be suitable for areas with high seismic activity, as it could be prone to collapse during earthquakes.

Cable-Stayed Bridge:

Advantages:

Can span long distances, making it useful for crossing wider rivers.

Requires fewer support towers than a suspension bridge, making it potentially less expensive.

Can provide a safe and convenient way for people to cross the river.

Can be designed to be aesthetically pleasing, potentially attracting tourists to the area.

Disadvantages:

Can be expensive to build and maintain, potentially making it too costly for the community.

Can be affected by strong winds, making it potentially unsafe during storms.

Can require specialized skills and equipment to build.

May not be suitable for areas with high seismic activity, as it could be prone to collapse during earthquakes.

Beam Bridge:

Advantages:

Relatively inexpensive to build and maintain, making it potentially affordable for the community.

Can be built using local materials and simple construction methods.

Can be suitable for shorter spans.

Disadvantages:

May not be strong enough to withstand flooding, especially if the river is prone to flash floods.

May not be suitable for longer spans or wider rivers.

Can be affected by seismic activity, potentially causing it to collapse during earthquakes.

May not be aesthetically pleasing, potentially detracting from the area's appeal.

In general, the bridge design should balance the advantages and disadvantages to ensure that it is fit-for-purpose and meets the needs of the community.