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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 176 · 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.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it works in compression
  3. 3.🔺 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?
  4. 4.🔺 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?
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  6. 6.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a plank over a drain (c) a round palace roof (d) a roof truss
  7. 7.🔺 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?
  8. 8.🔺 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?
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  11. 11.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) a bicycle frame (c) an old stone bridge (d) an igloo
  12. 12.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) floating (c) not affected (d) stretched (tension)
  13. 13.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a planetarium roof (c) a roof truss (d) a bicycle frame
  14. 14.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an igloo (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  16. 16.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an electric pylon (b) a plank over a drain (c) an old stone bridge (d) a slab over a canal
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  19. 19.🔺 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
  20. 20.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.🔺 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
  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.🔺 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
  26. 26.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a round palace roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a crane arm
  27. 27.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) an electric pylon (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an igloo
  28. 28.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) paint it (c) make it bigger (d) add a diagonal brace
  29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  30. 30.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a bicycle frame (c) a slab over a canal (d) a fort gateway
  31. 31.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  33. 33.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a roof truss (c) a round palace roof (d) a crane arm
  34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  35. 35.🔺 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
  36. 36.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a plank over a drain (c) a crane arm (d) a round palace roof
  38. 38.True or false: a fort gateway uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🔺 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?
  40. 40.🔺 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?

Answer key

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

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