Wind, lightning, rain, traffic, and the environment are all things that engineers have to take into account when designing things such as bridges. Forces also play a big role in the layout of the bridge.
Two forces that are present in all bridges are compression and tension. The engineer designing the bridge needs to take these forces into consideration so that the bridge does not buckle or snap. Compression is a force that shortens the object that it is acting on. Tension is the opposite because it lengthens the object that it is acting on.
A spring can be used to demonstrate compression and tension. When we press down, or push the ends of the spring together, we compress it. This force shortens the spring. When we pull the spring apart we create tension. This force lengthens the spring.
The best way to handle these forces is to either disperse or convert them. When you disperse the force you are spreading it out over a larger area, so that no one spot has to carry the intensely sustained force. When you convert the force you are moving it from an area of weakness to an area of strength.
There are dozens of other forces that also must be taken into consideration when designing a bridge. These forces are usually specific to a particular location or bridge design.
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