Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 126 · 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.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) an old stone bridge (c) a plank over a drain (d) a bicycle frame
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 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?
4. 4.🔺 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?
5. 5.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a roof truss (c) a lintel over a door (d) a curved stone doorway
6. 6.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) paint it (c) take off a side (d) make it bigger
7. 7.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) a lintel over a door (c) a round palace roof (d) a bicycle frame
11. 11.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a truss bridge side (d) a roof truss
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
13. 13.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) square (c) triangle (d) rectangle
14. 14.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a slab over a canal (d) a crane arm
18. 18.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a round palace roof (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a truss bridge side
22. 22.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
27. 27.🔺 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
28. 28.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
33. 33.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a plank over a drain (b) an electric pylon (c) a truss bridge side (d) a crane arm
34. 34.🔺 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
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a fort gateway (c) an igloo (d) a slab over a canal
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
40. 40.🔺 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?

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