A cutaway engine cylinder shows the piston, valves and spark through the four strokes of the cycle. Students change engine speed and spark advance and watch the stroke, cycle angle, cylinder pressure and valve states update.
—
Truss Bridge
About this simulation
This simulation shows a Warren truss bridge made of triangles, where each straight member is only pulled or pushed. A load can be set to any weight and position along the span, or an automatic truck can drive across. Colours show tension and compression, and readouts give the maximum tension, maximum compression and the reactions at both supports. It helps students see how loads travel through a structure and why engineers use triangles, and it works well for statics and design technology lessons.
What students can explore
- Turn on Auto drive across and watch members change colour as the truck moves.
- Switch Auto drive off and set Load position to 0 m, 15 m and 30 m, noting the Supports A / B readout.
- Increase Load weight and see how Max tension and Max compression grow.
- Find which members turn blue and which turn red when the load is at midspan.
- Compare the support forces when the load sits near one end of the bridge.
Learning objectives
- 1Distinguish between tension and compression in structural members.
- 2Explain why triangles make a rigid, efficient frame.
- 3Predict how support reactions change as a load moves along a span.
- 4Relate larger loads to larger member forces.
Questions teachers ask
Is it free to use?
Yes. It is free, runs in any modern browser including whiteboards and tablets, and needs no sign-up.
What is the difference between tension and compression?
A member in tension is being pulled and tries to stretch, shown in blue here. A member in compression is being pushed and tries to shorten, shown in red. A truss member carries only one of these at a time.
Why are bridges built from triangles?
A triangle cannot change shape without one side changing length, so a frame of triangles stays rigid. Loads are then carried as simple pulls and pushes along the members instead of bending them.
How do I use the truss bridge simulation?
Set Load weight and Load position, or switch on Auto drive across. Watch the member colours and read Max tension, Max compression and the support forces in the readout boxes.
Embed this simulation
Drop it into your LMS, blog, or class site — free.
<iframe src="https://kiwibee.io/en/simulations/truss-bridge-3d-simulation/embed" title="Truss Bridge | KiwiBee" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen style="width:100%;height:min(70vh,620px);min-height:420px;border:0;border-radius:16px"></iframe>Continue exploring
More interactive science models
A dam, penstock and turbine are shown in 3D. Students change the gate opening and the water level, called the head, and read the water flow, penstock water speed, electrical power and energy per day.
—
A medieval trebuchet swings its arm in 3D and throws a stone. Students change the counterweight mass, arm ratio and release angle, press Fire, and read the release speed, range and flight time.
—
A 3D pocket cube with colored faces sits on screen. Students drag across a face to turn a layer, press Scramble to mix it, and try to solve it while the move counter and timer run.
—
Streaks of air flow around a curved wing in 3D while students change the angle of attack and airspeed. Readouts show lift, the lift coefficient, lift to drag ratio and whether the flow is normal or stalled.
—
Bring interactive science into your classroom
KiwiBee's free teacher workspace brings lesson planning, worksheets, classroom tools, and gradebook together in one place.
Start free and create your first class
Home
All solutions
Pricing
About us
KiwiBee for Non-profits
Events & webinars
For big organisations
For schools
For centers
For team leaders
For teachers
AI and resources
Resources
Printable worksheets
Lesson Packs
Interactive simulations
Teacher tools
AI studio
Ideas and research