Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 143 · 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 curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
5. 5.🔺 A flat frame has 8 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
6. 6.True or false: a plank over a drain uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
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.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
10. 10.🔺 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
11. 11.🔺 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
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
15. 15.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it works in compression (c) it bends easily (d) it is very light
18. 18.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a slab over a canal (c) an igloo (d) a roof truss
19. 19.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
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 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?
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
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.🔺 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?
29. 29.🔺 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
30. 30.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) a lintel over a door (d) a shelf on two brackets
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
34. 34.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) add a diagonal brace (c) paint it (d) make it bigger
35. 35.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a planetarium roof (c) a round palace roof (d) a plank over a drain
36. 36.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a bicycle frame (c) an old stone bridge (d) a planetarium roof
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
38. 38.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an igloo (c) a planetarium roof (d) a shelf on two brackets
39. 39.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a lintel over a door (c) a round palace roof (d) an old stone bridge
40. 40.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a round palace roof (c) a plank over a drain (d) a bicycle frame

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