Model Description This in-class activity provides students the opportunity to participate in an interactive demonstration to visualize the concepts of soil pressure and potential effects on construction excavation support systems. In this demo, students are able to interact directly with small-scale models to exhibit the concepts of at rest (equilibrium) soil conditions, active soil pressure, […]
Model Description This is an opportunity to hang something from the ceiling and excite the students about their ability to analyze real world structures. After a few weeks of statics lessons, students possess the ability to determine the maximum and minimum force in a cable suspension bridge through equations of equilibrium. This demonstration should take […]
Model Description This physical model demonstrates how cables subjected to concentrated point loads establish equilibrium through geometry – i.e., the slope of each cable segment will change (as will the support reactions) as different loads are placed on the cable. This demonstration should take 10-20 minutes. Engineering Principle Cables subjected to concentrated loads are a […]
Model Description Use this daunting looking model to set the stage for a lesson on 3-D equilibrium and eventually persuade your students that it’s easier than it looks! This demonstration should take 20 minutes. Engineering Principle 3-D equilibrium for a non-concurrent force system requires the simultaneous solution of six equations of equilibrium, three equations for […]
Overview Understanding the concept of particle equilibrium is critical for success in the mechanics curriculum. The equilibrium demonstrator described here helps students to grasp this concept as well and provide a means of visualizing vector components in two or three dimensions Principle The primary principle relevant in this example is Newton’s first law of motion, […]