Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

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

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