Load facts for kids

Load is a word with a few different meanings, especially when we talk about engineering or moving things around. It can mean the forces that push or pull on a building or bridge, or it can mean the items being carried by a vehicle or person.

What is a Load in Engineering?

In engineering, a load is like a push, pull, or weight that acts on something. Think of a bridge: it has to hold up its own weight, plus the weight of cars and trucks driving over it. All these weights are considered loads. Engineers need to understand these loads to make sure structures are strong and safe.

Types of Loads on Structures

Structures like buildings, bridges, and even your school desk experience different kinds of loads. Knowing these types helps engineers design things that won't break.

Dead Loads: Constant Weight

Dead loads are the parts of a structure that are always there. This includes the weight of the walls, floors, roof, and all the permanent fixtures inside. Imagine the weight of the bricks and concrete in a building; that's a dead load.

Live Loads: Changing Weight

Live loads are weights that can change. These are things that move or are not always present. For example, people walking in a building, furniture that can be moved, or snow on a roof are all live loads. The weight of cars on a bridge is also a live load because cars come and go.

Environmental Loads: Nature's Forces

Nature can also create loads on structures. These are called environmental loads.

• Wind pressure: Strong winds can push hard against tall buildings or bridges.
• Snow and ice: Heavy snow or ice can add a lot of weight to roofs, especially in winter.
• Earthquake shocks: During an earthquake, the ground shakes, and this shaking creates powerful forces that can push and pull on buildings.
• Water pressure: Dams or walls near water need to withstand the pressure of the water pushing against them.

Engineers must calculate all these different loads to make sure buildings and bridges can stand strong against them.

What is a Load as Cargo?

When we talk about a load as cargo, it means the goods or items being carried from one place to another. This is also known as freight. Think about a delivery truck, a cargo ship, or even a backpack you carry to school. Whatever is inside that truck, ship, or backpack is its load.

Carrying Goods Around the World

Moving loads of cargo is a huge part of how our world works. It helps deliver everything from food and clothes to electronics and building materials.

How Cargo is Moved

• Trucks: Trucks carry loads of goods over roads, delivering items to stores and homes.
• Trains: Long trains can carry very heavy and large loads across countries.
• Ships: Massive cargo ships transport huge loads of goods across oceans, connecting continents.
• Airplanes: Cargo planes carry urgent or valuable loads quickly over long distances.

Understanding "load" helps us see how things are built to be strong and how goods are moved around the world every day.