A testing machine pushes vertically down on the centre of a flexible beam. The beam rests horizontally on two supports, one beneath each end. The beam bends and is held stationary. The weight of the beam can be ignored.
Which describes the combined force exerted by the two supports on the beam?
Equal in size to the force from the machine and acting upwards.
Smaller than the force from the machine and acting upwards.
Equal in size to the force from the machine and acting downwards.
Larger than the force from the machine and acting upwards.
102 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 15.1 Forces and springs, covering 15.1.1 Elastic and inelastic distortion, 15.1.2 The spring constant, 15.1.3 Work done in stretching a spring, and 15.1.4 Linear and non-linear force–extension. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.