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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 171 · 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.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) stretched (tension)
  2. 2.🔺 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
  3. 3.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a crane arm (c) a truss bridge side (d) a planetarium roof
  5. 5.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is very light (c) it bends easily (d) it is hollow
  6. 6.True or false: a fort gateway uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 7 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  8. 8.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) an electric pylon (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a fort gateway
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a planetarium roof (c) a round palace roof (d) a roof truss
  12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  13. 13.🔺 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
  14. 14.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 13 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  17. 17.🔺 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?
  18. 18.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🔺 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?
  20. 20.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🔺 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?
  22. 22.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a round palace roof (c) an electric pylon (d) a truss bridge side
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.🔺 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?
  25. 25.🔺 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?
  26. 26.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  29. 29.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a roof truss (c) a truss bridge side (d) a plank over a drain
  31. 31.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  34. 34.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an igloo (c) a lintel over a door (d) a planetarium roof
  35. 35.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a plank over a drain (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a lintel over a door
  36. 36.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
  37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  38. 38.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  39. 39.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a roof truss (c) a plank over a drain (d) a bicycle frame
  40. 40.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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