Question

In the making of the shear force diagram or the bending moment diagrams, one method is used, distributed load. In this the distributed load will be considered positive if?

(a) Loading acts upward

(b) Loading acts downward

(c) Loading acts rightward

(d) Loading acts leftward

I got this question in an online quiz.

This intriguing question comes from Shear Stress Diagram topic in section Internal Forces of Engineering Mechanics

Answer 1

Right option is (a) Loading acts upward

Explanation: The loading acting upward is considered to be positive. This is done as to decrease the time used for the calculations. If the method of sections is being applied at the complex sections for the determination of the unknown forces, much time is required for it. Thus the main motto is to make the calculations easy and make the less use of time.