Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 146 · 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 planetarium roof uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a planetarium roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a shelf on two brackets
3. 3.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an electric pylon (d) a plank over a drain
4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a plank over a drain (c) a round palace roof (d) an electric pylon
5. 5.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a lintel over a door (d) a planetarium roof
6. 6.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a lintel over a door (c) an electric pylon (d) a crane arm
8. 8.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an electric pylon (b) a round palace roof (c) a crane arm (d) a truss bridge side
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 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
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
13. 13.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
23. 23.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) paint it (c) add a diagonal brace (d) make it bigger
24. 24.🔺 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
25. 25.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a roof truss (c) an igloo (d) a bicycle frame
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
27. 27.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) square (c) hexagon (d) rectangle
28. 28.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a slab over a canal (c) a bicycle frame (d) an old stone bridge
29. 29.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
31. 31.🔺 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
32. 32.🔺 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
33. 33.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a fort gateway (d) a crane arm
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle

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