In this activity you are trying to find out how much the beam bends towards the floor. The smaller the number on the screen the nearer the beam is to the floor. Step on to each beam in turn and read the numbers on the screen.

Which beam hardly bends?

 

There are several forces acting on the beam. When you stand on the beam the underside of the beam is under tension. Tension is a pulling force in one direction. Objects under tension are being pulled and this can lead them to being stretched. How much a material stretches is very important to material scientist, structural engineers who build structures and manufactures for example who make clothes. The top of the beam is being compressed or pushed together. This is a compression force.

 

Friction

Forces in Action