Forces and structures Flashcards
How does a solid structure get its strength?
It gets its strength from very tightly packed pieces.
How does a frame structure get its strength?
It gets its strength from lots of thin parts that are connected together
How does a shell structure get its strength?
It gets its strength from the shape if the structure(dome) without needing help on the inside.
What is a newton?
1 Newton (1 N) is the force needed to accelerate 1 kg of mass at the rate of 1m per second.
What is the formula for force calculations?
(F) = m x a. m being mass and a being acceleration.
What is symmetrical
If an object is symmetrical, the balance point will be at the centre
How do you calculate structural efficiency?
Max load divided by mass of structure in grams
What is asymmetrical
If an object is asymmetrical, the balance point will be away froms the centre.
Difference between centre of gravity and balance point
Centre of gravity is a point inside the structure. Balance point is on the surface of the object.
Central thrust line
Imaginary line that runs perpendicular to the ground, straight through the CG
What is a force
A push or pull that acts on an object, measures in Newtons
What is structural efficiency
Mass of the load divided by the mass of the structure.
What are some ways of adding support to structures?
Adding new pieces
Changing the shape
Changing the material
How do triangles add support
Adding a BRACE or a TIE to a structure creates triangles, spreading the weight across a broader base and enhancing strength and stability.
How do pillars add support
Pillars can be used to provide extra support, but only work if the material in the beam is fairly rigid.
