Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

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

Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids