Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 101 · 40 questions

Engineer's tip (Triangles stay put): Triangles are rigid; trusses, towers and frames use them. A pin-jointed frame with n sides needs n − 3 corner-to-corner braces; a row of n triangles uses 2n + 1 straws. Arches squeeze (compression); beams span gaps; domes are arches turned round in a circle.

1. 1.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it is hollow (c) it bends easily (d) it works in compression
2. 2.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a slab over a canal (c) a roof truss (d) a round palace roof
3. 3.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) an old stone bridge (c) a planetarium roof (d) a plank over a drain
6. 6.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
7. 7.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a round palace roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a bicycle frame
8. 8.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) add a diagonal brace (c) make it bigger (d) paint it
9. 9.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 2 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
11. 11.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔺 A flat frame has 9 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
13. 13.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) floating (c) not affected (d) stretched (tension)
14. 14.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a roof truss (c) a bicycle frame (d) a fort gateway
15. 15.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
17. 17.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a roof truss (b) a bicycle frame (c) an old stone bridge (d) a lintel over a door
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
19. 19.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
20. 20.🔺 A frame shaped like a square is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
21. 21.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
23. 23.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 1 triangle standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
24. 24.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 10 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
25. 25.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an igloo (b) a roof truss (c) a lintel over a door (d) an electric pylon
26. 26.🔺 A flat frame has 8 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
27. 27.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a fort gateway (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a round palace roof
28. 28.🔺 A flat frame has 6 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
29. 29.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a round palace roof (c) a crane arm (d) an old stone bridge
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
31. 31.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
33. 33.🔺 A flat frame has 5 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
34. 34.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a slab over a canal (c) an old stone bridge (d) a crane arm
35. 35.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
36. 36.True or false: an electric pylon uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
40. 40.🔺 A flat frame has 12 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?

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