2007-04-25 15:14:15 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Under a heavy load, a square distorts easily. It ends up looking like a parallelogram. If you put a brace diagonally across the middle of the square, you create two triangles and a much stronger shape. In fact, the triangle is the only shape that cannot be deformed without changing the length of one of its sides.
2007-04-25 15:19:13 · answer #1 · answered by ZeroCarbonImpact 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a square has 4 sides which when pressure it put on it can give way, with a triangle the pressure is equal to 3 sides so it is much stronger
2007-04-25 15:19:20 · answer #2 · answered by sunnybums 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A beam element is usually much stiffer and stronger in tension and compression along its length than it is in bending. When you shear the top of a square structure sideways, you are putting the vertical beams in bending. They will break easily. However, if you shear the top point of a triangular structure sideways, you will put one of the diagonal elements in tension, and the other in compression. This is much stiffer (harder to move) and also much stronger (harder to break).
Stiffening a node (intersection) in a 3D structure requires no less than 3 non-coplanar beam elements to intersect that node. This is called triangulation.
2007-04-25 23:03:06 · answer #3 · answered by lithiumdeuteride 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's not as heavy at the top as a square.
2007-04-25 15:22:08 · answer #4 · answered by Mrs. Wizard 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋