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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 113 · 40 questions
TalentJR

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.

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  1. 1.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  2. 2.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a plank over a drain (c) a planetarium roof (d) a truss bridge side
  5. 5.🔺 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?
  6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  8. 8.🔺 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?
  9. 9.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) square
  10. 10.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) make it bigger (c) add a diagonal brace (d) paint it
  11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.True or false: a plank over a drain uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🔺 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?
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  16. 16.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a planetarium roof (c) a round palace roof (d) a fort gateway
  17. 17.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) floating (c) squeezed (compression) (d) not affected
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  19. 19.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a truss bridge side (c) a fort gateway (d) a planetarium roof
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  21. 21.🔺 A flat frame has 11 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  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.🔺 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?
  25. 25.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an igloo (c) a roof truss (d) a shelf on two brackets
  26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  27. 27.🔺 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?
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  29. 29.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is hollow (c) it is very light (d) it works in compression
  31. 31.🔺 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?
  32. 32.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a plank over a drain (c) an old stone bridge (d) a shelf on two brackets
  33. 33.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) a round palace roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a crane arm
  35. 35.🔺 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
  36. 36.True or false: a round palace roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  39. 39.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid

Answer key

  1. triangle
  2. True
  3. False
  4. a planetarium roof
  5. 11
  6. beam
  7. beam
  8. 5
  9. triangle
  10. add a diagonal brace
  11. triangle
  12. 29
  13. False
  14. 19
  15. dome
  16. a fort gateway
  17. squeezed (compression)
  18. beam
  19. a truss bridge side
  20. beam
  21. 8
  22. 17
  23. rigid
  24. 3
  25. a roof truss
  26. triangle
  27. 13
  28. triangle
  29. True
  30. it works in compression
  31. 3
  32. a bicycle frame
  33. False
  34. a round palace roof
  35. rigid
  36. False
  37. arch
  38. arch
  39. True
  40. wobbly

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