Force Fundamentals
What is a push or a pull that causes an object to move or change shape?
Force
What tool is used to measure mass in grams?
Triple-Beam Balance
What type of load comes from the structure itself or something ON the structure that doesn't move?
Static Load
What is the internal force that squeezes materials together?
Compression
What is the force between two surfaces rubbing together?
Friction
What are three things determine the effect a force has on a structure?
Magnitude, direction, and location
This is the reason astronauts float in space - their mass stays the same, but what quantity becomes much smaller?
Their weight, because gravity is weaker
What type of load moves or changes over time?
Dynamic Load
What is the internal force that pulls something apart?
Tension
What always happens because of friction? It slows motion and produces this.
Heat
How many Newtons of force are needed to hold up a 100g mass?
1 Newton
How many Newtons does a 1kg (1000g) object weigh?
10 Newtons
What is a structure's ability to maintain position when forces act on it?
Structural stability
What is the internal force that involves two connected parts moving in opposite directions?
Shear
Designers want what part of a car to have high friction?
Tires
What is the formula used to calculate force when you know mass and acceleration?
F=m x a
When measuring mass, what should you always set these to zero first on a triple-beam balance?
Beams/sliders
Widening what part of a structure relative to its height greatly increases stability?
The base
What is the twisting forces that can weaken or break a structure?
Torsion
A structure can experience permanent changes from repeated forces - this is called...
Structural fatigue
What force pulls any object with mass toward another object with mass?
Gravity
What is the calculated weight (in Newtons) of a 3kg object experiencing gravity?
30 Newtons
Lowering what point makes a structure more stable?
Centre of Gravity
When a heavy snow load bends the middle of a wooden beam downward, the top of the beam squeezes together, while the bottom stretches apart. Which two internal forces act at the same time?
Compression and tension
What is the total collapse of a structure due to internal and external forces?
Structural failure