Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 218 · 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 triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a truss bridge side (c) a planetarium roof (d) a lintel over a door
2. 2.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
5. 5.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
7. 7.🔺 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?
8. 8.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a bicycle frame (c) an old stone bridge (d) a crane arm
11. 11.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.🔺 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
13. 13.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an old stone bridge (c) a truss bridge side (d) a shelf on two brackets
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
16. 16.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a roof truss (c) a truss bridge side (d) a fort gateway
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
18. 18.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a crane arm (c) an electric pylon (d) a planetarium roof
19. 19.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) make it bigger (c) take off a side (d) paint it
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.🔺 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?
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a bicycle frame (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a curved stone doorway
25. 25.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
27. 27.🔺 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
28. 28.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) square (c) hexagon (d) triangle
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) a plank over a drain (c) a round palace roof (d) a lintel over a door
31. 31.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) floating (c) squeezed (compression) (d) stretched (tension)
33. 33.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔺 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
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a crane arm (c) a lintel over a door (d) a roof truss
38. 38.🔺 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
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a planetarium roof (c) a roof truss (d) a plank over a drain

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