← Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams lesson New set →

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 166 · 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.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.True or false: a plank over a drain uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔺 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
  3. 3.🔺 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
  4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a roof truss (c) an igloo (d) a slab over a canal
  5. 5.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) add a diagonal brace (c) take off a side (d) make it bigger
  6. 6.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) hexagon
  7. 7.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  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.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a planetarium roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a lintel over a door
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  11. 11.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  16. 16.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🔺 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?
  20. 20.🔺 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
  21. 21.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) an old stone bridge (c) a crane arm (d) a plank over a drain
  22. 22.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an igloo (b) a fort gateway (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a bicycle frame
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.True or false: a round palace roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  29. 29.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating
  30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  31. 31.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a round palace roof (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a plank over a drain
  33. 33.🔺 A frame shaped like a square is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
  34. 34.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🔺 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?
  36. 36.🔺 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?
  37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  38. 38.🔺 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?
  39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome

Answer key

  1. False
  2. it works in compression
  3. wobbly
  4. a slab over a canal
  5. add a diagonal brace
  6. triangle
  7. False
  8. 1
  9. an old stone bridge
  10. triangle
  11. wobbly
  12. 29
  13. dome
  14. arch
  15. beam
  16. False
  17. False
  18. False
  19. 25
  20. wobbly
  21. a plank over a drain
  22. an igloo
  23. 7
  24. False
  25. True
  26. False
  27. wobbly
  28. triangle
  29. squeezed (compression)
  30. beam
  31. False
  32. a round palace roof
  33. rigid
  34. True
  35. 6
  36. 5
  37. arch
  38. 13
  39. arch
  40. triangle

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