Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 222 · 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 a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a round palace roof (d) a roof truss
2. 2.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a bicycle frame (c) a lintel over a door (d) an old stone bridge
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
5. 5.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an igloo (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a truss bridge side
6. 6.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) square
7. 7.🔺 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?
8. 8.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) add a diagonal brace (c) make it bigger (d) take off a side
11. 11.🔺 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
12. 12.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a planetarium roof (c) a truss bridge side (d) a curved stone doorway
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a crane arm (d) a shelf on two brackets
15. 15.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 5 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
16. 16.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) a round palace roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a roof truss
19. 19.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a roof truss (c) a truss bridge side (d) a curved stone doorway
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
21. 21.🔺 A frame shaped like a square is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
22. 22.🔺 A flat frame has 8 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an electric pylon (c) a bicycle frame (d) an old stone bridge
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
36. 36.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔺 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
38. 38.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True

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