Demonstration of different bending profiles of a cantilever caused by a torque or a force

A simple experiment is described to demonstrate the different deflected shapes assumed by a cantilever due to a torque or a force acting on its end. An optical deflection technique is used to show that different shapes appear in the cantilever even if the torque or force causes an identical displacement of the cantilever end. [DOI: 10.1119/1.1399045]