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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 244 · 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.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  2. 2.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) paint it (c) take off a side (d) make it bigger
  3. 3.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) triangle
  5. 5.🔺 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?
  6. 6.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a planetarium roof (c) an igloo (d) a truss bridge side
  7. 7.🔺 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?
  8. 8.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a bicycle frame (c) a planetarium roof (d) a fort gateway
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.True or false: an electric pylon uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  13. 13.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🔺 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?
  15. 15.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) not affected (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating
  16. 16.🔺 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?
  17. 17.🔺 A flat frame has 12 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
  19. 19.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔺 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
  21. 21.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a roof truss (b) a lintel over a door (c) a round palace roof (d) a fort gateway
  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.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  24. 24.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🔺 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
  27. 27.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a roof truss (c) a plank over a drain (d) a truss bridge side
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  29. 29.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a bicycle frame (c) a roof truss (d) a planetarium roof
  30. 30.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  32. 32.True or false: an old stone bridge uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) a round palace roof (d) a fort gateway
  34. 34.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: a fort gateway uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  37. 37.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a fort gateway (c) a planetarium roof (d) a crane arm
  39. 39.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch

Answer key

  1. arch
  2. add a diagonal brace
  3. True
  4. triangle
  5. 29
  6. a truss bridge side
  7. 15
  8. a bicycle frame
  9. 5
  10. False
  11. True
  12. triangle
  13. True
  14. 27
  15. squeezed (compression)
  16. 21
  17. 9
  18. arch
  19. True
  20. rigid
  21. a fort gateway
  22. 17
  23. triangle
  24. False
  25. False
  26. wobbly
  27. an old stone bridge
  28. dome
  29. a lintel over a door
  30. False
  31. dome
  32. False
  33. a slab over a canal
  34. True
  35. False
  36. beam
  37. False
  38. a planetarium roof
  39. False
  40. arch

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