Extra Questions
What is a Structure?
An object with a definite size or shape, serves a purpose
What is the difference between a manufactured and natural structure?
Natural structures are found in nature, manufactured are manmade.
Describe aethetics.
The study of the beauty in art and nature.
What is a Force Meter also known as?
A spring scale
What is the difference between a dead and a live load.
A dead load is the weight of a structure on itself, while a live load is the weight of something activity putting force on a structure.
What is the difference between a mobile and rigid joint?
Mobile joins can move, Rigid joints are fixed in place
What are two useful features of a shell structure?
They are empty on the inside, use little building material, spread forces through the whole structure.
What type of rigid joint is created through welding and soldering?
A melted rigid joint.
What instrument is used for measuring mass?
Are dead/live loads external or internal forces
They are the two types of external forces.
Name 3 types of structures
mass, shell, frame, complex
What type of wall is a partition wall inside of a building?
A partition wall is a non bearing wall, meaning it holds no weight.
What are the 5 types of rigid joints?
Fasteners, ties, interlocking shapes, adhesives and melted joints.
What is the difference between weight and mass?
Mass is constant, weight is gravity dependent.
What are the 4 types of internal forces?
Tension, compression, shear, and torsion
What is the margin of safety?
The need for something built or manufactured to perform as expected for a long time, so that people's safety and health are not put at risk.
Name 3 complex structures
A football helmet, an airplane, hydro-electric dams, St. Catherine...
How do builders approach balancing safety with cost?
They compromise between a reasonable margin of safety and a reasonable cost.
A gravitational force between two objects depends on what two things?
The masses of the objects and the distance between them.
What type of strength does steel as a material have a lot of?
Tensile strength, as each metal particle attracts a few other particles very strongly.
What does the unit "Newton" measure?
A Newton is the standard unit of force.
What are the three components of design?
How the structure is put together, how it shaped and the materials that make up the structure.
What are the four main factors used in determining what materials to use for a project?
Cost, appearance, environmental impact and energy efficiency.
Is weight measured in Newtons?
Yes, it is considered a force so it is measured in Newtons.
Why does graphite have such poor shear strength?
Because it is formed in thin layers, meaning that the forces between the layers are relatively weak, making them prone to breaking apart when force is applied to it in opposite directions.