Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 189 · 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.🔺 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
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
4. 4.🔺 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
5. 5.🔺 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
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
7. 7.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) stretched (tension)
8. 8.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 10 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
9. 9.🔺 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
10. 10.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a truss bridge side (d) an igloo
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) take off a side (c) add a diagonal brace (d) make it bigger
15. 15.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) an old stone bridge (c) a slab over a canal (d) a bicycle frame
17. 17.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a truss bridge side (c) a roof truss (d) an old stone bridge
18. 18.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
23. 23.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a crane arm (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a slab over a canal
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 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
29. 29.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a truss bridge side (c) a bicycle frame (d) a roof truss
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a round palace roof (c) a crane arm (d) an old stone bridge
37. 37.True or false: a fort gateway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: a round palace roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a round palace roof (c) a planetarium roof (d) a fort gateway
40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle

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