Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 104 · 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: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.🔺 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?
5. 5.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
7. 7.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is very light (c) it works in compression (d) it is hollow
12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) an electric pylon (c) a planetarium roof (d) a shelf on two brackets
13. 13.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) triangle (c) rectangle (d) hexagon
14. 14.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 4 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
15. 15.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a round palace roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a bicycle frame
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
19. 19.🔺 A flat frame has 10 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
21. 21.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 9 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
22. 22.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) a roof truss (c) a fort gateway (d) a round palace roof
23. 23.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) an igloo (c) a roof truss (d) a shelf on two brackets
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
25. 25.🔺 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
26. 26.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a round palace roof (c) a truss bridge side (d) a plank over a drain
27. 27.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) a truss bridge side (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a planetarium roof
28. 28.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a truss bridge side (c) a bicycle frame (d) an igloo
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
30. 30.🔺 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
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
32. 32.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a truss bridge side (c) a roof truss (d) a shelf on two brackets
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
37. 37.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 11 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
39. 39.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 3 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
40. 40.🔺 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

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