Final answer:
A notch cut in the bottom edge of a beam is indeed more likely to result in failure due to higher tension and stress concentration, thus the statement is true. Notches and holes should be avoided in beams, especially in areas subjected to high stresses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that a notch cut in the bottom edge of a beam is more likely to result in failure than one cut in the top edge is true. The reason behind this is rooted in the concept of bending stress and the neutral axis in beam theory. When a beam is subjected to bending, the top of the beam is in compression while the bottom is in tension. The highest tensile stresses occur at the bottom surface of the beam, just where a notch would reduce the cross-sectional area available to resist those stresses, leading to a higher stress concentration and increased likelihood of failure. In contrast, the top edge in compression is less affected by such defects. Therefore, notches and holes should be avoided in critical regions of a beam to maintain structural integrity.
Complete question:
A notch cut in the bottom edge of a beam is more likely to result in failure than one cut in the top edge, although as a general rule, nothces and holes should not be cut in beams.
a. True
b. False