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Forces in Bridges
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Forces in Bridges
A community recycling drive needs a safe bridge for moving collected materials across a stream. Use the science clues to explain how forces act in bridges. Write in complete sentences where needed.
1.What does tension do to a material, and what does compression do?
2.In a simple truss bridge, one horizontal member is pulled and tends to stretch, while another is pushed and tends to shorten. Name the force acting on each member.
3.A box of recycled cans is placed in the middle of the bridge deck. Which statement best describes the load?
- It is a force that acts downwards on the bridge.
- It is tension that pulls the stream banks together.
- It is compression that makes the bridge weightless.
- It is friction that lifts the bridge deck.
4.Decide whether each statement is true or false. (a) Tension tends to stretch a bridge member. (b) Compression tends to shorten or squash a bridge member. (c) A bridge’s supports help transfer its load to the ground.
TrueFalse
5.Match each force or feature to its description.
- Tension
- Compression
- Support
- Transfers forces from the bridge towards the ground
- A pull that stretches a member
- A push that squeezes a member
6.The recycling team adds more heavy boxes to the centre of the bridge. What happens to the load, and why might the bridge bend more?
7.A truss bridge uses connected triangles. Explain one way this shape can help the bridge stay rigid under a load.
8.A long, unsupported section of the bridge deck sags when the recycling boxes cross. Suggest one structural change and explain how it could help.
9.Put these parts in order to show one sensible route for the bridge’s load to reach the ground: bridge deck, ground, supports.
10.A bridge is strong just because it is made from a strong material. Give one reason why the bridge’s shape and arrangement of parts matter too.
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