Forces: Stress and Strain

This unit introduces students to the forces of stress and strain. Students design and build model buildings and beams, which furthers their understanding of the effects of compression and tension forces in relation to structure strength. Students explore the psychological concepts of stress and stress management in an associated literacy activity.

Engineers consider the forces of stress and strain in selecting suitable designs and materials to create safe and durable products and processes. For example, civil engineers consider tension and compression forces when designing any type of structure to ensure its safety and stability. Material strength testing determines which substances engineers should use to create a wide-range of items from building products like siding and shingles, to recreation equipment like ski gear and running shoes, to high-tech devices such as dental implants and heart pacemakers, and more.