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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 220 · 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 of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a fort gateway (c) a plank over a drain (d) a truss bridge side
  2. 2.True or false: an old stone bridge uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🔺 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?
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  5. 5.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) floating (c) squeezed (compression) (d) not affected
  7. 7.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a planetarium roof (c) a roof truss (d) an igloo
  8. 8.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) an old stone bridge (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a bicycle frame
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  14. 14.🔺 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?
  15. 15.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  17. 17.🔺 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
  18. 18.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🔺 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?
  20. 20.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) a round palace roof (c) a truss bridge side (d) a lintel over a door
  21. 21.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a plank over a drain (c) a truss bridge side (d) a fort gateway
  22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  24. 24.🔺 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
  25. 25.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a round palace roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an electric pylon
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  29. 29.🔺 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?
  30. 30.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a lintel over a door (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a roof truss
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  33. 33.🔺 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
  34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  35. 35.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) add a diagonal brace (c) make it bigger (d) paint it
  36. 36.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a crane arm (c) a planetarium roof (d) a fort gateway
  37. 37.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🔺 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?
  40. 40.🔺 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

Answer key

  1. a truss bridge side
  2. False
  3. 15
  4. triangle
  5. False
  6. squeezed (compression)
  7. a roof truss
  8. True
  9. an old stone bridge
  10. 9
  11. 13
  12. False
  13. dome
  14. 6
  15. False
  16. dome
  17. rigid
  18. False
  19. 17
  20. a round palace roof
  21. a plank over a drain
  22. triangle
  23. triangle
  24. rigid
  25. False
  26. 3
  27. an electric pylon
  28. beam
  29. 27
  30. False
  31. a curved stone doorway
  32. arch
  33. it works in compression
  34. triangle
  35. add a diagonal brace
  36. a crane arm
  37. True
  38. False
  39. 5
  40. wobbly

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