Forces and stresses
Unit 4 · Common specialist technical principlesExplore tension, compression, bending, torsion and shear through live structural testing. Tension, compression, bending, torsion and shear, and how section shape resists them, with a 3D failing shelf mission. Click-by-click builds, answer reveals, and teacher notes and answers on every slide.
What this lesson covers
Tension, compression, bending, torsion and shear, and how section shape resists them, with a 3D failing shelf mission. Click-by-click builds, answer reveals, and teacher notes and answers on every slide.
60-minute lesson, 19 slides. Part of DT Classroom’s GCSE Design and Technology course, taught through an interactive 3D lab rather than static slides alone.
Practise and extend
Also available for this lesson from the teacher resources: lesson slides, knowledge organiser, worksheet.
Exam board coverage
Where this lesson sits in each GCSE Design and Technology specification, as an indicative mapping by DT Classroom (not endorsed by any board - check the current specification before relying on it).
| Board | Specification reference |
|---|---|
| AQA | 3.2.2 Forces and stresses |
| Edexcel | 2.4 Metals: Forces and stresses; reinforcement and stiffening 3.4 Papers and boards: Forces and stresses; reinforcement and stiffening 4.4 Polymers: Forces and stresses; reinforcement and stiffening 5.4 Systems: Forces and stresses; reinforcement and stiffening 6.4 Textiles: Forces and stresses; reinforcement and stiffening 7.4 Timbers: Forces and stresses; reinforcement and stiffening |
| OCR | 6.1 What gives a product structural integrity |
| WJEC Eduqas | TP5 Materials |
| Cambridge International | 1.6 Structures |
See the full specification map for every lesson and every board.
Other lessons in Common specialist technical principles
DT Classroom is a GCSE Design and Technology course: interactive 3D lessons, teacher slide decks, worksheets and exam practice, built for pupils and teachers. Exam board references above are DT Classroom’s own indicative mapping, not provided or endorsed by AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR or WJEC Eduqas.