Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 103 · 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.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) hexagon (c) triangle (d) rectangle
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) stretched (tension) (c) squeezed (compression) (d) not affected
8. 8.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it bends easily (c) it is very light (d) it works in compression
10. 10.🔺 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?
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
12. 12.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
13. 13.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a planetarium roof (c) a roof truss (d) a crane arm
14. 14.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a plank over a drain (c) a bicycle frame (d) an igloo
15. 15.🔺 A frame shaped like a triangle is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
16. 16.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a roof truss (c) a round palace roof (d) a lintel over a door
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
18. 18.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
20. 20.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a truss bridge side (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
22. 22.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a lintel over a door (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an old stone bridge
23. 23.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
27. 27.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) a truss bridge side (c) a crane arm (d) a fort gateway
31. 31.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a fort gateway (c) a planetarium roof (d) a truss bridge side
33. 33.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
34. 34.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 5 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
35. 35.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
37. 37.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) add a diagonal brace (c) paint it (d) take off a side
38. 38.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
39. 39.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an electric pylon (b) an old stone bridge (c) a plank over a drain (d) an igloo

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