Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 217 · 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 a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
4. 4.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) floating (c) stretched (tension) (d) not affected
6. 6.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔺 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?
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
10. 10.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a crane arm (c) a round palace roof (d) a curved stone doorway
12. 12.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
13. 13.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a roof truss (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an old stone bridge
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
15. 15.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 4 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
16. 16.🔺 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
17. 17.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a plank over a drain (c) a round palace roof (d) a bicycle frame
18. 18.🔺 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?
19. 19.🔺 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
20. 20.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a roof truss (c) an electric pylon (d) a shelf on two brackets
21. 21.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
26. 26.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) a planetarium roof (c) an electric pylon (d) a truss bridge side
27. 27.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) hexagon
28. 28.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a planetarium roof (c) a fort gateway (d) a round palace roof
30. 30.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) make it bigger (c) add a diagonal brace (d) take off a side
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
34. 34.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a crane arm (c) a slab over a canal (d) an electric pylon
35. 35.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a lintel over a door (c) an old stone bridge (d) an igloo
38. 38.🔺 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
39. 39.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔺 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?

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