Structures and Forces Review 2

The shape of a beehive’s cells (hexagonal) is often used in engineering as an example of:

• Inefficient design

• Biomimicry for strength and space efficiency

• Ergonomics for humans

• Random geometry

To make a structure more ergonomic, a designer might:

• Ignore human comfort

• Make it too large to handle

• Consider human body measurements and comfort

• Use no design principles

A vault ceiling in a cathedral is a type of:

• Shell structure that distributes forces downward

• Frame structure without any shape

• Solid block of material

• No structural form

Materials that resist compression well are used in:

• Rope bridges only

• Support columns and arches

• Fabric tents

• Soft pillows

If a structure fails under too much torsion, it likely:

• Snapped from twisting

• Compressed uniformly

• Stretched infinitely

• Lost all mass

Applying biomimicry, engineers might study shark skin to create:

• Rough surfaces on airplanes for drag

• Smooth surfaces to reduce drag on ships

• Random patterns in houses

• Weak building materials

Good ergonomics in a handheld tool means:

• It fits awkwardly in the user’s hand

• It reduces strain and is comfortable to grip

• It requires extra force to use

• It is too large and heavy

If you push down on a beam, the top side experiences:

• Tension

• Compression

• Torsion

• Shear

If two forces act on opposite sides of a structure, sliding layers apart, it’s:

• Tension

• Compression

• Shear

• Torsion

Gravity affects mass and weight by:

• Changing mass but not weight

• Changing weight but not mass

• Removing both mass and weight

• Doubling mass at sea level