How a bridge carries a load
A beam bridge gives weight a route from the deck into the ground.

Picture in words: 1. Deck: People and vehicles add weight to the deck.
2. Beam: The beam bends slightly: its top is squeezed and its bottom is stretched.
3. Supports: Piers or end supports carry the forces downward.
4. Foundations: Foundations spread the forces into strong ground below.

One more wonder: Bridges can also use arches, triangles or hanging cables. This map shows a beam bridge.


Question: Where do the supports send the load?
Answer: Toward the foundations

Sources:
PBS: Building Big — bridges — https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/bridge/basics.html

Reviewed 28 September 2026. Simplified educational illustration, not to scale.
https://atherverse.com/kids/how-things-work/bridges/