Forces and Loads on Structures

Start with forces

The Forces mind map is a starting point for studying tension, compression, bending and shear. It connects each force with a short description. For example, it describes compression as squeezing something together and tension as pulling it apart. Look at the branches first, then use the flashcards to recall the terms without looking at the map.

The Physics-Structures flashcards include balanced and unbalanced forces, compression, tension and stress. You can use them after the map to go over force vocabulary and see how it appears alongside terms such as beam and truss.

Move on to loads

The Structures flashcards include static and dynamic loads, dead and live loads, and forces such as tension, torsion and shear. Study the load terms together, then return to the forces on the Forces map. This gives you a way to alternate between the map's connections and the cards' individual terms.

The Balsa wood structure flashcards offer another set of terms, including concentrated load, live load, dynamic load and static load. They also include force, equilibrium and structural drawing.

Choose a study route

There are no quizzes listed on this topic page. Instead, use a flashcard deck for practice and a mind map to review the connections around a term. You could begin with tension and compression, move to static and dynamic loads, and then return to any terms you want to study again.

Explore the unit

Forces and Loads on Structures is one section of Structures and Forces, in the subject Engineering and technology (general or other). The resources here give school students and teachers a focused set of materials for this section. Open a resource that matches the terms you want to work on.