Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 147 · 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 slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) triangle (c) square (d) rectangle
4. 4.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 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 strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
7. 7.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a plank over a drain (c) a truss bridge side (d) a curved stone doorway
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
9. 9.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an old stone bridge (c) a lintel over a door (d) a roof truss
10. 10.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) an electric pylon (c) a lintel over a door (d) a fort gateway
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
12. 12.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is very light (c) it is hollow (d) it works in compression
13. 13.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a plank over a drain (c) a slab over a canal (d) a bicycle frame
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
19. 19.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an electric pylon (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) an igloo (d) a lintel over a door
20. 20.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) squeezed (compression) (c) not affected (d) floating
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) take off a side (c) add a diagonal brace (d) make it bigger
24. 24.🔺 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
25. 25.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a plank over a drain (c) an electric pylon (d) a round palace roof
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
32. 32.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a crane arm (d) a fort gateway
33. 33.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 11 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
35. 35.🔺 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
36. 36.🔺 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
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
38. 38.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
40. 40.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a fort gateway (d) an electric pylon

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