Which statement about a continuous beam is true?

Which statement about a continuous beam is true?

• A. It is supported by two points
• B. It is supported by three or more points
• C. It has no supports
• D. It is always the same as a simple span

Answer: (B)

A continuous beam is defined by having three or more supports along its length, not just at the ends. This setup allows the beam to pass continuity over intermediate supports, which creates internal moments and a statically indeterminate system. That’s why the statement describing three or more supports is true. The other descriptions don’t fit: two supports describe a simple span, having no supports means there’s no load path, and a continuous beam is not the same as a simple span because continuity changes how moments and reactions are distributed.

A continuous beam is defined by having three or more supports along its length, not just at the ends. This setup allows the beam to pass continuity over intermediate supports, which creates internal moments and a statically indeterminate system. That’s why the statement describing three or more supports is true. The other descriptions don’t fit: two supports describe a simple span, having no supports means there’s no load path, and a continuous beam is not the same as a simple span because continuity changes how moments and reactions are distributed.