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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 234 · 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.🔺 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
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  3. 3.🔺 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?
  4. 4.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it bends easily (c) it is very light (d) it works in compression
  5. 5.🔺 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?
  6. 6.🔺 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?
  7. 7.True or false: a fort gateway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  9. 9.🔺 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
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  14. 14.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a round palace roof (d) a fort gateway
  15. 15.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a bicycle frame (c) an igloo (d) a plank over a drain
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  17. 17.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) squeezed (compression) (c) not affected (d) floating
  18. 18.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a truss bridge side (c) a lintel over a door (d) a planetarium roof
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  22. 22.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a fort gateway (c) a roof truss (d) a slab over a canal
  23. 23.🔺 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
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  26. 26.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: an old stone bridge uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) square (d) triangle
  29. 29.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an igloo (b) a truss bridge side (c) a lintel over a door (d) a curved stone doorway
  30. 30.🔺 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
  31. 31.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🔺 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?
  33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  35. 35.🔺 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?
  36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  37. 37.🔺 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?
  38. 38.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.🔺 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

Answer key

  1. rigid
  2. triangle
  3. 3
  4. it works in compression
  5. 3
  6. 11
  7. False
  8. triangle
  9. wobbly
  10. 7
  11. False
  12. beam
  13. arch
  14. a fort gateway
  15. a bicycle frame
  16. dome
  17. squeezed (compression)
  18. False
  19. True
  20. a planetarium roof
  21. arch
  22. a roof truss
  23. wobbly
  24. triangle
  25. beam
  26. False
  27. False
  28. triangle
  29. an igloo
  30. rigid
  31. False
  32. 25
  33. beam
  34. triangle
  35. 5
  36. beam
  37. 15
  38. False
  39. True
  40. wobbly

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