Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

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

Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids