Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Trying to understand a "Type of Stress" Have already researched and understand that Compressive stress is generated by a force which is acting into or towards the centre of an object (i.e. trying to make the object smaller) vs Tensile stress is generated by a force acting to pull away from the center of an object to stretch or pull apart, but what is the force breaking a rod, being held horizontal, a vertical force coming down on it, is that shear/ shearing ? Thanks!

You are correct, shear stress is the force applied parallel to the face of a material (the face here is vertical, across the rod).