Engineering mathematics

What you'll learn

1. 1

   Imagine you're building a bridge with Lego bricks. You need to know how much weight it can hold — that's engineering maths!

2. 2

   What does stress = force ÷ area tell you?

3. 3

   A steel beam has a force of 1000 N pushing on it and an area of 2 m². Calculate the stress.

4. 4

   Let's work out the stress on a concrete pillar together.

5. 5

   Now try this: A cable has a force of 200 N and an area of 0.1 m². What is the stress?

6. 6

   If stress = force ÷ area, and force = 300 N, area = 0.2 m², what is the stress?

7. 7

   Engineers use this to pick the right material. For example, steel can handle much higher stress than wood before it breaks!