← Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams lesson New set →

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 192 · 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.

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

Answer key

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

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