Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 107 · 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 round palace roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a truss bridge side (c) a crane arm (d) a slab over a canal
4. 4.🔺 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
5. 5.🔺 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
6. 6.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a fort gateway (d) a roof truss
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 strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it is hollow (c) it works in compression (d) it bends easily
11. 11.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) square (c) rectangle (d) hexagon
12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a crane arm (c) a slab over a canal (d) a planetarium roof
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
18. 18.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) stretched (tension) (c) squeezed (compression) (d) not affected
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) an igloo (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a lintel over a door
23. 23.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔺 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
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a bicycle frame (c) a slab over a canal (d) an old stone bridge
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a truss bridge side (c) a lintel over a door (d) an igloo
31. 31.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an igloo (c) an old stone bridge (d) an electric pylon
32. 32.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a bicycle frame (c) a roof truss (d) a plank over a drain
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
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.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
37. 37.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) a crane arm (c) an old stone bridge (d) a planetarium roof
40. 40.🔺 A flat frame has 7 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?

Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids