Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 110 · 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.🔺 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
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.🔺 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?
5. 5.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a roof truss (c) a truss bridge side (d) a round palace roof
6. 6.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) floating (c) squeezed (compression) (d) stretched (tension)
8. 8.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a plank over a drain (c) a bicycle frame (d) a slab over a canal
9. 9.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it is very light
10. 10.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
13. 13.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a roof truss (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a shelf on two brackets
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
17. 17.True or false: an electric pylon uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔺 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?
19. 19.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a crane arm (b) a plank over a drain (c) an igloo (d) a slab over a canal
20. 20.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a fort gateway (c) a round palace roof (d) a curved stone doorway
21. 21.🔺 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
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) take off a side (c) make it bigger (d) paint it
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
26. 26.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a crane arm (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
27. 27.🔺 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
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
33. 33.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) square (d) rectangle
34. 34.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a plank over a drain (d) a roof truss
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
39. 39.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a roof truss (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
40. 40.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a fort gateway (c) a slab over a canal (d) an electric pylon

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