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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 23 · 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.🔺 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?
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  5. 5.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🔺 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?
  7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  8. 8.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it works in compression (c) it is very light (d) it is hollow
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  11. 11.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) hexagon
  13. 13.🔺 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
  14. 14.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a crane arm (d) an old stone bridge
  15. 15.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) an old stone bridge (c) a truss bridge side (d) an igloo
  16. 16.🔺 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?
  17. 17.True or false: a planetarium roof uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an old stone bridge (c) a planetarium roof (d) an electric pylon
  19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  22. 22.🔺 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
  23. 23.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) paint it (c) add a diagonal brace (d) take off a side
  24. 24.🔺 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?
  25. 25.🔺 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?
  26. 26.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  28. 28.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  30. 30.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) a roof truss (c) an old stone bridge (d) a bicycle frame
  33. 33.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  36. 36.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  37. 37.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  39. 39.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a fort gateway (c) a roof truss (d) a planetarium roof
  40. 40.🔺 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?

Answer key

  1. 11
  2. 27
  3. triangle
  4. beam
  5. True
  6. 21
  7. dome
  8. False
  9. it works in compression
  10. triangle
  11. True
  12. triangle
  13. rigid
  14. a crane arm
  15. an igloo
  16. 2
  17. False
  18. a lintel over a door
  19. arch
  20. arch
  21. triangle
  22. wobbly
  23. add a diagonal brace
  24. 7
  25. 29
  26. True
  27. beam
  28. False
  29. dome
  30. False
  31. False
  32. an old stone bridge
  33. True
  34. dome
  35. triangle
  36. wobbly
  37. True
  38. arch
  39. a planetarium roof
  40. 25

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