Trusses have the advantage of being able to span an equal distance using more material and being heavier than a comparable beam.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Cannot be determined
• D. Both A and B

Answer: (B)

Trusses span by using many slender members arranged in triangles, so loads are carried mainly as axial tension and compression rather than bending. This efficient distribution lets a truss achieve long spans with less material and typically a lighter overall weight than a solid beam of the same span and load. Therefore, the idea that trusses use more material and are heavier is not correct. There are design cases where weight can grow due to many connections or specific constraints, but the general principle is material efficiency for trusses.