Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 251 · 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.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it is hollow (c) it works in compression (d) it bends easily
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a crane arm (c) a lintel over a door (d) a plank over a drain
12. 12.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) a plank over a drain (c) a crane arm (d) an electric pylon
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
14. 14.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a lintel over a door (c) a roof truss (d) a plank over a drain
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 an arch. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
18. 18.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a truss bridge side (c) an igloo (d) an old stone bridge
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
21. 21.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) square (d) triangle
22. 22.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a round palace roof (d) a slab over a canal
23. 23.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a fort gateway (c) a slab over a canal (d) a roof truss
24. 24.🔺 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
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a round palace roof (c) a roof truss (d) a lintel over a door
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
29. 29.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.🔺 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
34. 34.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
36. 36.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a crane arm (d) a lintel over a door
37. 37.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
38. 38.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a plank over a drain (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a lintel over a door
39. 39.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a planetarium roof (c) a truss bridge side (d) a curved stone doorway
40. 40.🔺 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?

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