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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 199 · 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.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  5. 5.🔺 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
  6. 6.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  8. 8.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a planetarium roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) an igloo
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) an electric pylon (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a bicycle frame
  11. 11.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it is hollow (c) it bends easily (d) it works in compression
  12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a bicycle frame (c) an igloo (d) a round palace roof
  13. 13.🔺 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
  14. 14.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
  15. 15.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🔺 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?
  18. 18.🔺 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
  19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  21. 21.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) take off a side (c) paint it (d) make it bigger
  23. 23.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a slab over a canal (c) a roof truss (d) an old stone bridge
  24. 24.🔺 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?
  25. 25.🔺 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?
  26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  28. 28.🔺 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?
  29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  30. 30.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  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.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) triangle (c) square (d) rectangle
  36. 36.🔺 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?
  37. 37.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a bicycle frame (c) a lintel over a door (d) a slab over a canal
  38. 38.🔺 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
  39. 39.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a plank over a drain (c) a roof truss (d) a crane arm
  40. 40.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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