Forces Acting on Materials is one of 9 topics in the Grade 8 Technology CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. Which force is a pulling (stretching) force, trying to pull a material apart?
Tension
Compression
Torsion
Shear
Answer: Tension — Tension is a pulling (stretching) force, trying to pull a material apart and lengthen it.
Easy
2. Which force is at work when you wring out a wet cloth, twisting it along its length?
Torsion
Tension
Compression
Bending
Answer: Torsion — Torsion is a twisting force, trying to twist a material along its length, like wringing out a wet cloth or turning a screwdriver.
Medium
3. Give ONE everyday example of a force where two surfaces slide past each other in opposite directions, like the blades of scissors cutting paper.
Answer: shear — Shear is a force trying to slide one part of a material past an adjacent part in opposite directions, like the two blades of scissors.
