[Phys-l] How "Compressive" is Defined. (was tire q...)

[Brian Whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>]

At 12:14 PM 11/12/2007, you wrote:

> > If you take one of Jiminy the Clown's long
> >   slender rubber balloons, from the material of which toy giraffes
> > are built, you will easily see that it can pass a compressive force
> > from one end t'other



> When you press on a wall with the end of such a balloon, the wall is
> exerting a force toward you on the end cap of the balloon.


I see that the list cannot quite agree on what constitutes compression.

For any structure whatsoever, if forces from opposite sides are directed
 inwards, the force is defined by engineers as compressive.
 Sorry if that does not quite comport with a sophisticated physics
reading of forces on particular structures       :-)



Brian Whatcott    Altus OK    Eureka!