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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 102 · 40 questions
TalentJR

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.

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

Answer key

  1. wobbly
  2. False
  3. 5
  4. arch
  5. False
  6. a shelf on two brackets
  7. 27
  8. an old stone bridge
  9. 2
  10. arch
  11. beam
  12. dome
  13. True
  14. rigid
  15. 21
  16. False
  17. squeezed (compression)
  18. True
  19. dome
  20. triangle
  21. rigid
  22. 1
  23. False
  24. 9
  25. dome
  26. a curved stone doorway
  27. add a diagonal brace
  28. True
  29. a plank over a drain
  30. arch
  31. wobbly
  32. 17
  33. triangle
  34. 25
  35. beam
  36. 3
  37. False
  38. a truss bridge side
  39. beam
  40. triangle

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