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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 161 · 40 questions
TalentJR

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.

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  1. 1.🔺 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?
  2. 2.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
  3. 3.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) triangle (d) square
  4. 4.🔺 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?
  5. 5.🔺 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?
  6. 6.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 5 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  7. 7.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔺 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?
  9. 9.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it works in compression (c) it bends easily (d) it is hollow
  11. 11.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a truss bridge side (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
  12. 12.🔺 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
  13. 13.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) an igloo (c) a roof truss (d) a truss bridge side
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  17. 17.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  19. 19.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an igloo (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an electric pylon
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  22. 22.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) an electric pylon (d) a crane arm
  23. 23.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🔺 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?
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  26. 26.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) take off a side (c) paint it (d) make it bigger
  27. 27.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) an igloo (c) a crane arm (d) a slab over a canal
  28. 28.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  31. 31.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a fort gateway (c) a plank over a drain (d) a bicycle frame
  32. 32.🔺 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?
  33. 33.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  37. 37.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  39. 39.🔺 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?
  40. 40.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a truss bridge side (d) an electric pylon

Answer key

  1. 17
  2. squeezed (compression)
  3. triangle
  4. 5
  5. 4
  6. 11
  7. False
  8. 1
  9. False
  10. it works in compression
  11. a plank over a drain
  12. rigid
  13. False
  14. True
  15. a curved stone doorway
  16. arch
  17. False
  18. dome
  19. an igloo
  20. beam
  21. triangle
  22. a planetarium roof
  23. True
  24. 6
  25. dome
  26. add a diagonal brace
  27. a crane arm
  28. False
  29. True
  30. arch
  31. a bicycle frame
  32. 3
  33. True
  34. False
  35. triangle
  36. triangle
  37. False
  38. beam
  39. 5
  40. a shelf on two brackets

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