Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 179 · 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 shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) square
2. 2.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
8. 8.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) stretched (tension) (c) not affected (d) floating
9. 9.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) a crane arm (c) an igloo (d) a truss bridge side
10. 10.🔺 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?
11. 11.🔺 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
12. 12.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a crane arm (c) a bicycle frame (d) an old stone bridge
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
15. 15.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🔺 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?
19. 19.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a crane arm (c) a fort gateway (d) a planetarium roof
21. 21.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
22. 22.🔺 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?
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.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) an old stone bridge (c) a crane arm (d) a planetarium roof
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
27. 27.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
29. 29.🔺 A flat frame has 5 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
31. 31.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 1 triangle standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
34. 34.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) make it bigger (c) take off a side (d) paint it
39. 39.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔺 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?

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