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Strength-to-weight ratio
Moderators: AmyCowen, kgudger, bfinio, MadelineB, Moderators
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codeblue286
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:39 pm
- Occupation: Student: 6th grade
- Project Question: Strength-to-weight ratio. I am doing a project I found on science buddies. I will put the URL below. I found out how much weight it took to break these beams and the weight of the beams. What would be the formula for the strength-to-weight ratio formula. Thank you in advance for you help.
http://www.sciencebuddies.com/science-f ... k&from=TSW - Project Due Date: January 10, 2011
- Project Status: I am finished with my experiment and analyzing the data
Strength-to-weight ratio
I am doing a project where I am testing the strength of plastic beams. I know how much the beams weigh and how much weight they can hold before breaking, what would be the formula for the strength-to-weight ratio? Thanks!
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deleted-71709
- Former Expert
- Posts: 265
- Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 8:36 am
- Occupation: Engineer - Product & Technical Development Executive Director
- Project Question: n/a
- Project Due Date: n/a
- Project Status: Not applicable
Re: Strength-to-weight ratio
To get the strength-to-weight ratio, simple divide the strength by the weight of each sample. That will give you the "ratio". Make sure you measure the strength and weight using the same units, like "pounds" or "ounces".
Ed Neu
Buffalo, MN
Buffalo, MN
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deleted-71588
- Former Expert
- Posts: 1297
- Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:47 am
Re: Strength-to-weight ratio
A strength to weight ratio is only viable as a means of comparing beam performance if the test conditions are identical.
If the length of the span or end conditions are different, you will get different results for the same cross section beam.
If you are comparing how much weight / force a beam will hold in the middle of the same length span with the same end conditions and load bearing point conditions, then you have a viable comparison; however, you have to specify those conditions somewhere in your data so that somebody else could repeat your testing.
If the length of the span or end conditions are different, you will get different results for the same cross section beam.
If you are comparing how much weight / force a beam will hold in the middle of the same length span with the same end conditions and load bearing point conditions, then you have a viable comparison; however, you have to specify those conditions somewhere in your data so that somebody else could repeat your testing.
-Craig