Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 221 · 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 curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
3. 3.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it works in compression (c) it bends easily (d) it is hollow
7. 7.🔺 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
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) paint it (c) take off a side (d) add a diagonal brace
10. 10.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) hexagon
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
13. 13.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a roof truss (c) an old stone bridge (d) a shelf on two brackets
14. 14.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
16. 16.True or false: a plank over a drain uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) stretched (tension)
18. 18.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 9 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
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 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?
22. 22.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a fort gateway (c) a roof truss (d) a bicycle frame
23. 23.🔺 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
24. 24.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 3 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
25. 25.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
27. 27.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) a round palace roof (c) a plank over a drain (d) an old stone bridge
29. 29.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
31. 31.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
32. 32.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
33. 33.🔺 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?
34. 34.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a lintel over a door (d) a plank over a drain
36. 36.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an igloo (c) a bicycle frame (d) a shelf on two brackets
37. 37.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a plank over a drain (c) a roof truss (d) a bicycle frame
40. 40.🔺 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?

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