Book 25, Question 8 · Video
How does the golden ball inside Taipei 101 keep the tower steady?
Some tall buildings sway a little in strong winds. Taipei 101 in Taiwan has a huge golden steel ball, about 18 feet wide and weighing about 660 tons, hanging from cables inside the tower. When wind pushes the building one way, the ball swings the other way and cancels part of the motion. Giant shock absorbers slow the ball. This kind of weight is called a tuned mass damper. Visitors can see it.
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How does the golden ball inside Taipei 101 keep the tower steady?
The Big Idea
Inside Taipei 101 hangs a giant golden ball! It is not just for looks. It helps keep the tower steady in the wind.
Swaying
Step one: Swaying. Some tall buildings sway a little in strong winds. Taipei 101 in Taiwan is one of them.
The Ball
Step two: The Ball. It has a huge golden steel ball, about 18 feet wide and weighing about 660 tons, hanging from cables inside the tower. Visitors can go and see it.
Swinging Back
Step three: Swinging Back. When wind pushes the building one way, the ball swings the other way and cancels part of the motion. Giant shock absorbers slow the ball. This is called a tuned mass damper.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look! Wind pushes the tower. The tower starts to sway. The ball swings the other way. Shock absorbers slow it.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! In a 2015 typhoon, the ball swung about three feet to keep the tower steady. The ball is 18 feet wide. The damper even has cartoon mascots called Damper Babies. Other towers use dampers too.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Hang a washer from a string taped to a ruler. Hold the ruler level. Shake the ruler gently side to side. Watch how the washer swings in the opposite direction. How is this like the golden ball?
Outro
The golden ball inside Taipei 101 is a tuned mass damper. When wind pushes the tower one way, the 660-ton ball swings the other way, canceling part of the sway. Science is amazing! Remember, every big discovery starts with a small question. Keep looking, keep learning, and keep asking why! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!