← Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams lesson New set →

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 246 · 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 of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a truss bridge side (c) a slab over a canal (d) a roof truss
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  4. 4.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.🔺 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?
  6. 6.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a round palace roof (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an electric pylon
  7. 7.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a truss bridge side (c) a round palace roof (d) an old stone bridge
  8. 8.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🔺 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
  10. 10.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it works in compression (c) it bends easily (d) it is hollow
  12. 12.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.🔺 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?
  14. 14.🔺 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
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  16. 16.🔺 A flat frame has 4 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: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🔺 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?
  20. 20.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  22. 22.🔺 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
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
  25. 25.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) square (d) triangle
  26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  27. 27.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  29. 29.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a planetarium roof (d) a truss bridge side
  30. 30.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  32. 32.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an electric pylon (c) a planetarium roof (d) a lintel over a door
  33. 33.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a bicycle frame (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
  36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  37. 37.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) make it bigger (c) paint it (d) add a diagonal brace
  38. 38.🔺 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?
  39. 39.🔺 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?
  40. 40.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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