Statics is the science of objects not in motion. For the statics unit we worked to determine the static equilibrium of trusses and forces acting upon them while they were at rest. Using trigonometry and algebraic methods we calculated the amount of force of tension or compression acting on all the various members of a truss and its joints.
To test out what we had learned we built our own trusses out of balsa wood and wood glue near the end of the unit to compare how various designs distributed force and which design stood up to the most pressure and tension exerted on it. Each design was placed in a compression machine. This activity demonstrated how various truss designs work better than others when standing up to force exerted on them.
To test out what we had learned we built our own trusses out of balsa wood and wood glue near the end of the unit to compare how various designs distributed force and which design stood up to the most pressure and tension exerted on it. Each design was placed in a compression machine. This activity demonstrated how various truss designs work better than others when standing up to force exerted on them.