Plasticine can be used to model cylinder beams. Image credit wordpress.com ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Experiment: Investigating whether thick beams support more weight
Aim: To show that thicker beams can support more weight
Materials: Plasticine/Stikistuff, wooden board, small cardboard cylinders 2cm in […]
Testing the length and strength of beams ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Experiment:To investigate whether the depth of a beam affects its strength
Aim: To show how the length of a beam affects its strength
Materials: drinking straws, clamps, weights
Method
Common types of beams and their associated forces ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: An introduction to Beams and their types
Types of stresses that affect beams. The arrows show the direction of force. ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Stress in beams
Loading a beam ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Loading a beam
The cross section of beams ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Strength to Mass ratio
The greater the depth of a beam the more load it can support ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: The relationship between a beam’s strength and depth
Different materials have different strength. Image credit wisegeek.com ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: The strength of Materials
Demonstrating tension and compression forces ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Experiment: 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 
Testing the strength of beams ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Experiment: Testing the strength of various beams
Aim: To make different shaped beams and test their strength
Materials: thin pieces of poplar wood, sharp knife, weights, 2 clamps, 2 bricks