MCQ Detailed View

The correct answer is Bridge. A cantilever beam is a beam that is fixed at one end and free at the other, allowing it to project horizontally without additional support. This structural design is widely used in construction and engineering due to its ability to support loads while minimizing the need for extra columns or supports.

Cantilever beams are designed to carry loads along their length while transferring forces to the fixed support. The fixed end provides resistance to bending and shear, while the free end can carry weights, making it ideal for bridges, overhanging balconies, and certain types of cranes.

Examples:

• 
  

  Bridge – Many modern bridges, such as the Forth Bridge in Scotland, use cantilever construction. Sections of the bridge project from piers without intermediate supports, allowing long spans and stable structures.

  
  


• 
  

  Diving board – Also a cantilever, but typically smaller and with flexible material.

  
  


• 
  

  See-saw – A simple lever, not a cantilever, as it is supported at the center and balanced on a fulcrum.

  
  


• 
  

  Common balance – A weighing scale; not related to cantilever mechanics.

  
  

Understanding cantilever beams is important in civil engineering, mechanical design, and physics, as they demonstrate concepts of bending moments, shear forces, and torque. They are particularly useful where unobstructed space is required beneath the structure.

🔑 Key Facts:

• 
  

  Cantilever beam = fixed at one end, free at the other.

  
  


• 
  

  Common in bridges, balconies, cranes.

  
  


• 
  

  Transfers loads to the fixed support, resisting bending and shear.

  
  


• 
  

  Diving boards are smaller cantilevers; see-saw and balance are not.

  
  


• 
  

  Useful in engineering, construction, and mechanical design.

  
  

👉 Final Answer: An example of a cantilever beam is a Bridge.