Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 245 · 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 an arch? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an electric pylon (d) a slab over a canal
2. 2.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
3. 3.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a planetarium roof (d) a lintel over a door
7. 7.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.🔺 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?
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 6 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
15. 15.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 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 lintel over a door uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 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
19. 19.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a roof truss (c) an old stone bridge (d) a shelf on two brackets
20. 20.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
22. 22.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a round palace roof (c) a roof truss (d) a shelf on two brackets
23. 23.🔺 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
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.🔺 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
26. 26.🔺 A flat frame has 9 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
28. 28.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔺 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
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
34. 34.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a lintel over a door (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a truss bridge side
35. 35.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) a fort gateway (c) a truss bridge side (d) a round palace roof
36. 36.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a truss bridge side (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
39. 39.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a roof truss (c) an electric pylon (d) a fort gateway
40. 40.🔺 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?

Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids