Span Effect on Maximum Beam Moment
Mediumbending momentscaling
A simply supported beam carries a single point load at midspan. If the span is doubled while the load stays the same, the maximum bending moment:
- AIs halved
- BIs unchanged
- CDoubles
- DIncreases fourfold
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Answer: C. Doubles
For a central point load the maximum moment is PL/4, which is directly proportional to the span. Doubling L therefore doubles the moment. The fourfold answer would apply to a uniformly distributed load, where the moment is wL²/8 and depends on the square of the span.
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