Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 117 · 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 3 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
2. 2.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
5. 5.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 7 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 of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a plank over a drain (c) a fort gateway (d) a roof truss
7. 7.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a roof truss (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a truss bridge side (d) a lintel over a door
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.🔺 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
16. 16.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a lintel over a door (c) a planetarium roof (d) a fort gateway
17. 17.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a roof truss (d) a crane arm
19. 19.🔺 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
20. 20.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a round palace roof (c) a crane arm (d) an old stone bridge
21. 21.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) square
23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
25. 25.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a planetarium roof (d) a plank over a drain
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
34. 34.True or false: a fort gateway uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a bicycle frame (c) a fort gateway (d) a curved stone doorway
36. 36.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) a plank over a drain (c) a planetarium roof (d) an old stone bridge
37. 37.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) not affected
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
40. 40.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is hollow (c) it is very light (d) it bends easily

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