The strength of Materials

• A beam should be made of stronger material so that it can support a greater load
• Different materials have different strength
• Some material is greater when put under stress by compression forces
• for example bricks and concrete
• Some material is strong when put under tensile forces
• For example metals e.g. copper, iron and steel
• Some material is strong under shear forces
• For example metal
• The strength of a material thus depends on the way in which the force is applied
• It is difficult to break materials such as bricks by applying compression forces
• For example it is not easy to break wood with a hammer
• Bricks can be easily broken apart if they are pulled (tensile forces)
• Metals are not easily broken by pulling them apart.
• Some metals such as copper can also handle shear forces

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