JHS2 Career Technology · Term 2 Week 8: Simple Structures and Mechanisms, Electric and Electronic Systems

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: B8.4.1.1.1 - Perform experiments of principles of forces on structures

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

Identify and name the five main types of forces acting on structural members (tension, compression, shear, torsion, and bending) after carrying out simple research using ICT tools and other sources.
Make labelled sketches showing how each type of force acts on a structural member.
Select suitable resistant materials such as wood, metal, plastic, and brick for testing forces on structures, giving reasons for their choices.
Perform simple experiments that demonstrate how tension stretches, compression squashes or buckles, shear slides, torsion twists, and bending bends structural members.
Record observations from experiments accurately and present findings clearly in a group discussion.

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Curriculum details

Strand: Technology (Strand 4)
Sub-strand: Simple Structures and Mechanisms, Electric and Electronic Systems (4.1)
Content standard: B8.4.1.1 - Demonstrate understanding of application of principles of forces acting on structures
Indicator: B8.4.1.1.1 - Perform experiments of principles of forces on structures
Suggested placement: Term 2, Week 8 (Week 20 of the year)
Our suggestion, laid out in curriculum order across three terms of twelve weeks. NaCCA does not fix the week, so follow your school's scheme of learning.
Curriculum reference: Career Technology, Common Core Programme (JHS1-JHS3), 2023, p. 62
Transcribed from the official NaCCA publication. Check this page against the source.

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

1. Research for types of forces that can act on structural members in construction.
E.g., tension, compression, shear, torsion and bending
Note: Use ICT tools and other sources to identify types of forces acting on structures.
2. Make sketches and notes of the types of forces acting on structural members.
E.g., tension, compression, shear, torsion and bending
3. Identify suitable resistant materials that can be used to perform the experiments: Forces acting on structural members.
E.g., wood, metal, plastic, brick.
4. Perform experiments to show the following:
- how tension force can force a member to 'stretch'
- how compression force can cause a member to 'squash' or 'buckle'
- how shear force can cause a material to slide over each other
- how torsion force can cause a member to twist
- how a bending force which acts at an angle to a member tends to make it bend
5. Write their observations and discuss in class, in groups.