The weight of the bridge itself combined with the weight of whatever it carries is called what?

• A. Gravity
• B. Load
• C. Torsion
• D. Tension

Answer: (B)

In bridge engineering, the term load refers to all the forces the structure must resist. The weight of the bridge itself is a dead load, and the weight of anything it carries (vehicles, people, weather effects) is a live load; when you add these together you get the total load the structure must support. Gravity is the force that creates these weights, but it isn’t the label for the combined effect. Torsion and tension are specific types of stresses, not the overall quantity. For example, you might have a dead load plus a live load totaling a larger design load that the supports must carry.