Demonstrating compression and tensile forces

Aim:  To demonstrate compression and tensional(stretching forces)

Materials: glue, tissue paper, rubber, two small blocks of wood, plastic ruler/rubber hose

Method

Demonstrating tension and compression forces. Image credit MediaWiki

1. Glue tissue to the upper and lower sides of a plastic ruler rubber hose
2. Bend the ends of the beam upwards
3. Glue small blocks of wood together end to end
4. Before the glue sets bend the wooden beams so as to force them apart
5. Observe the glue fibers

Observations and Results

• The tissues at the top crinkles as they get shorter
• The tissues at the bottom tears as it gets longer
• The stands of glue at the top are shorter when the wooden blocks are pulled
• The strands at the bottom are longer as they are pulled apart

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