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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 12 · 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.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  3. 3.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a round palace roof (c) a planetarium roof (d) a roof truss
  5. 5.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a bicycle frame (c) a roof truss (d) a round palace roof
  6. 6.🔺 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?
  7. 7.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
  8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔺 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
  14. 14.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🔺 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?
  16. 16.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🔺 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?
  18. 18.True or false: a plank over a drain uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) square (d) rectangle
  21. 21.🔺 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
  22. 22.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a round palace roof (c) a crane arm (d) a slab over a canal
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a planetarium roof (d) a crane arm
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  29. 29.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  31. 31.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) take off a side (c) add a diagonal brace (d) paint it
  32. 32.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  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.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a roof truss (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a plank over a drain
  38. 38.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) stretched (tension)
  39. 39.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (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. False
  2. dome
  3. True
  4. a fort gateway
  5. a round palace roof
  6. 19
  7. wobbly
  8. beam
  9. 13
  10. 3
  11. 2
  12. False
  13. rigid
  14. False
  15. 15
  16. False
  17. 29
  18. False
  19. False
  20. triangle
  21. it works in compression
  22. a crane arm
  23. 21
  24. a curved stone doorway
  25. triangle
  26. 5
  27. False
  28. beam
  29. False
  30. arch
  31. add a diagonal brace
  32. wobbly
  33. beam
  34. 1
  35. True
  36. 17
  37. a roof truss
  38. squeezed (compression)
  39. False
  40. wobbly

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