In an I-beam, which statement correctly identifies the position of the web relative to the flanges?

• A. The web is horizontal at the top and bottom.
• B. The web connects the top and bottom flanges vertically.
• C. The web is decorative only.
• D. The web forms the outer boundary.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how the web sits relative to the flanges in an I-beam. In this cross-section, the flanges are the wide horizontal plates at the top and bottom, and the web is the slender vertical piece that connects those two flanges. This vertical connection allows the web to transfer shear between the flanges and keep the overall section from deforming excessively under load. So the correct description is that the web runs vertically between the top and bottom flanges, linking them together. The other statements don’t fit: the web is not horizontal at the top and bottom, it isn’t decorative, and it isn’t the outer boundary of the shape.