PE Civil Engineering Exam Prep

Answer: B - The term "maximum bending moment in a beam" is best described as the point at which shear forces change from positive to negative within the beam. Bending moments within a beam are rotational forces that cause the beam to bend, and the maximum bending moment is located at the peak of the bend. There may be more than one maximum bending moment within a beam if the forces applied on it cause the beam to bend in multiple places. The points where maximum bending moments occur can be seen on a bending moment diagram where the graphed cumulative moment passes through the x-axis.