Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 204 · 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 of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a truss bridge side (d) a curved stone doorway
2. 2.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a crane arm (c) a round palace roof (d) a shelf on two brackets
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
5. 5.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it works in compression
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
8. 8.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
9. 9.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a fort gateway (c) a roof truss (d) a planetarium roof
10. 10.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) square (d) triangle
11. 11.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a roof truss (d) a crane arm
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a crane arm (c) a slab over a canal (d) a roof truss
14. 14.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) an old stone bridge (c) a truss bridge side (d) an igloo
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a lintel over a door (c) an electric pylon (d) a planetarium roof
21. 21.🔺 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?
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 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
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a planetarium roof (c) a fort gateway (d) an electric pylon
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) paint it (c) take off a side (d) add a diagonal brace
29. 29.🔺 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
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a truss bridge side (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an igloo
34. 34.🔺 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
35. 35.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) an old stone bridge (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a roof truss (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an igloo
39. 39.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔺 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

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