Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 236 · 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 an igloo use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
2. 2.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a lintel over a door (d) an old stone bridge
3. 3.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) an igloo (c) a plank over a drain (d) a shelf on two brackets
4. 4.🔺 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?
5. 5.🔺 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
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
8. 8.🔺 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
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
10. 10.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) square
12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a crane arm (b) a round palace roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a lintel over a door
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a roof truss (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an old stone bridge
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.True or false: an old stone bridge uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a lintel over a door (c) a planetarium roof (d) a bicycle frame
19. 19.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) stretched (tension)
20. 20.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a fort gateway (c) a crane arm (d) a shelf on two brackets
21. 21.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) paint it (c) add a diagonal brace (d) make it bigger
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 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
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
26. 26.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a crane arm (c) a lintel over a door (d) a curved stone doorway
27. 27.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔺 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
29. 29.True or false: an electric pylon uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a fort gateway (c) a round palace roof (d) a bicycle frame
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
37. 37.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 11 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
38. 38.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
39. 39.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a slab over a canal (c) a planetarium roof (d) a fort gateway

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