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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 207 · 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 a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  2. 2.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  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.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) square
  7. 7.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔺 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?
  9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  10. 10.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) an electric pylon (c) an old stone bridge (d) a plank over a drain
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 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
  14. 14.🔺 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?
  15. 15.🔺 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?
  16. 16.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  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.🔺 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?
  19. 19.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔺 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?
  21. 21.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) add a diagonal brace (c) make it bigger (d) take off a side
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🔺 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
  29. 29.🔺 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?
  30. 30.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) an igloo (c) a roof truss (d) a fort gateway
  31. 31.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is very light (c) it works in compression (d) it is hollow
  32. 32.🔺 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?
  33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  34. 34.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a truss bridge side (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a round palace roof
  35. 35.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a lintel over a door (c) an electric pylon (d) an igloo
  38. 38.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an old stone bridge (c) a round palace roof (d) a curved stone doorway
  39. 39.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome

Answer key

  1. beam
  2. True
  3. 5
  4. True
  5. False
  6. triangle
  7. False
  8. 5
  9. beam
  10. a planetarium roof
  11. 21
  12. 4
  13. rigid
  14. 7
  15. 17
  16. False
  17. 2
  18. 27
  19. True
  20. 1
  21. add a diagonal brace
  22. 9
  23. 13
  24. False
  25. triangle
  26. 8
  27. False
  28. rigid
  29. 25
  30. a fort gateway
  31. it works in compression
  32. 3
  33. triangle
  34. a round palace roof
  35. False
  36. False
  37. an igloo
  38. a slab over a canal
  39. False
  40. arch

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