Why do earthquakes make tall buildings sway more than short ones?

Buildings respond to earthquakes like giant mechanical systems with their own preferred frequencies. Taller buildings tend to sway more slowly, while short buildings vibrate faster. If the seismic waves contain energy near a building’s natural period, resonance can increase the motion and stress. That is why engineers design dampers, flexible frames, and shock-absorbing foundations for high-rises in earthquake zones. The same principle helps explain why different buildings are damaged in different ways during the same quake.