Give me a lever... revisited: Archimedes' 2,000-year-old principles take root in a modern-day technological wonder

摘要

Last month we reviewed the fundamental principles behind levers and hydraulics with the emphasis on Archimedes' 230 B.C. idea that, "Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the world." Well, I don't propose moving the world just yet, but while on a recent trip to Seattle I was reminded of a project we worked on in the early 1990s. This had to do with a minor lubrication problem on the Southwest Spokane Street Swing Bridge. This structure is a one-of-a-kind bridge.