Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 2 · 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 an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
2. 2.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a plank over a drain (c) a round palace roof (d) a roof truss
3. 3.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a lintel over a door (c) an electric pylon (d) a crane arm
4. 4.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it bends easily (c) it works in compression (d) it is very light
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) wobbly (b) rigid
6. 6.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
7. 7.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an old stone bridge (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a round palace roof
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a plank over a drain (c) a lintel over a door (d) an electric pylon
10. 10.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 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
12. 12.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔺 A flat frame has 10 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.🔺 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
17. 17.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🔺 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?
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
20. 20.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) square
21. 21.🔺 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
22. 22.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
25. 25.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a plank over a drain (d) an electric pylon
26. 26.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 3 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
27. 27.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) an old stone bridge (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a bicycle frame
31. 31.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
33. 33.🔺 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?
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
35. 35.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an old stone bridge (c) a lintel over a door (d) a truss bridge side
36. 36.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a bicycle frame (c) a slab over a canal (d) a planetarium roof
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
39. 39.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam

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