Which statement about truss members under load is true?

• A. All members carry equal force
• B. Only vertical members carry force
• C. Bottom chord carries compression
• D. Top chord carries compression

Answer: (D)

When a truss is loaded, the forces travel along the members from joint to joint in a way that keeps the structure in equilibrium. In many common truss layouts under downward loads, the top chord is pushed together as the load compresses the upper path to the supports. That makes the top chord experience compression. The bottom chord, on the other hand, acts like a tie that resists being pulled apart, so it’s usually in tension. The diagonals and verticals carry forces too, but their exact direction (compression or tension) depends on the truss geometry and loading; the other statements—that all members carry the same force, that only vertical members carry force, or that the bottom chord carries compression—don’t reflect how load paths actually work in a typical truss.