Choose the correct statement below that accurately describes the shear and normal stresses in a beam. A. Shear stresses are maximum at the neutral axis and normal stresses are maximum furthest from the neutral axis. B. Normal stresses are maximum at the neutral axis and shear stresses are maximum furthest from the neutral axis. C. Shear stresses and normal stresses are maximum at the neutral axis. D. Shear stresses and normal stresses are maximum furthest from the neutral axis.

Normal stress is defined as the stress or the restoring force that occurs on the plane when an external axial load is applied on it. For a beam the normal stress is maximum at the point furthest from the neutral axis and is zero at the neutral axis of the beam.

Shear stress :

Shear stress is a stress which occurs when the force acts on the surface of the member in a parallel direction. It changes the shape of the member. For a beam, the shear stress is maximum at the neutral axis.