Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 141 · 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.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
3. 3.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) a slab over a canal (c) an old stone bridge (d) a round palace roof
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it works in compression
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
9. 9.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a bicycle frame (c) a lintel over a door (d) a crane arm
10. 10.🔺 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?
11. 11.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a plank over a drain (c) a planetarium roof (d) a round palace roof
13. 13.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) an old stone bridge (d) a round palace roof
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 a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
17. 17.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a planetarium roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a truss bridge side
18. 18.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
19. 19.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a slab over a canal (c) an electric pylon (d) a round palace roof
20. 20.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
21. 21.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) an old stone bridge (c) a planetarium roof (d) a lintel over a door
22. 22.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a crane arm (c) a truss bridge side (d) an igloo
23. 23.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a bicycle frame (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
25. 25.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) not affected (c) stretched (tension) (d) squeezed (compression)
26. 26.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
29. 29.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a roof truss (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a planetarium roof
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
31. 31.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.🔺 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
34. 34.🔺 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?
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 an arch. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
39. 39.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) square (d) triangle
40. 40.🔺 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

Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids