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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 186 · 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) squeezed (compression) (b) not affected (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  3. 3.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) square
  4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a lintel over a door (c) a bicycle frame (d) a fort gateway
  5. 5.🔺 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?
  6. 6.🔺 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
  7. 7.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔺 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?
  9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  11. 11.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a roof truss (d) an old stone bridge
  13. 13.True or false: an old stone bridge uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a bicycle frame (c) a round palace roof (d) a truss bridge side
  15. 15.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 9 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  19. 19.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a planetarium roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a fort gateway
  20. 20.🔺 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
  21. 21.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.🔺 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
  28. 28.🔺 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?
  29. 29.🔺 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?
  30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  31. 31.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it works in compression (c) it bends easily (d) it is very light
  32. 32.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) make it bigger (c) take off a side (d) add a diagonal brace
  33. 33.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a planetarium roof (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a truss bridge side
  34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  35. 35.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a planetarium roof (d) a truss bridge side
  37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  38. 38.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🔺 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?
  40. 40.🔺 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

Answer key

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

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