Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 159 · 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 old stone bridge (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a plank over a drain (d) a crane arm
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
3. 3.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
5. 5.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is hollow (c) it works in compression (d) it is very light
6. 6.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a plank over a drain (c) a crane arm (d) a round palace roof
8. 8.🔺 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
9. 9.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
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 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?
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
13. 13.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) not affected
14. 14.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a planetarium roof (c) a lintel over a door (d) an electric pylon
15. 15.🔺 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
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
18. 18.🔺 A flat frame has 7 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
19. 19.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
22. 22.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) square
23. 23.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) make it bigger (c) take off a side (d) paint it
24. 24.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a planetarium roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a round palace roof
26. 26.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a roof truss (c) an old stone bridge (d) a plank over a drain
27. 27.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an igloo (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an old stone bridge
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
34. 34.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a bicycle frame (d) an igloo
35. 35.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a round palace roof (c) a planetarium roof (d) a truss bridge side
38. 38.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a roof truss (c) a lintel over a door (d) a round palace roof
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
40. 40.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a slab over a canal (c) a planetarium roof (d) a truss bridge side

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