Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 108 · 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.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 6 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
2. 2.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) square (d) rectangle
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 3 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
5. 5.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) floating (c) not affected (d) stretched (tension)
6. 6.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) add a diagonal brace (c) take off a side (d) make it bigger
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
12. 12.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) an igloo (c) a planetarium roof (d) a slab over a canal
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
14. 14.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
16. 16.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an electric pylon (c) an old stone bridge (d) a round palace roof
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
18. 18.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an electric pylon (c) a lintel over a door (d) an old stone bridge
19. 19.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a crane arm (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a fort gateway
20. 20.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an igloo (b) a slab over a canal (c) an old stone bridge (d) a lintel over a door
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 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
24. 24.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 14 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.🔺 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
27. 27.True or false: a fort gateway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a roof truss (c) a fort gateway (d) a plank over a drain
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.🔺 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?
34. 34.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it works in compression (c) it is hollow (d) it bends easily
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
39. 39.🔺 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
40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch

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