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

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 252 · 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 igloo use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  2. 2.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a planetarium roof (c) an old stone bridge (d) a crane arm
  3. 3.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 12 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  4. 4.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) an igloo (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an electric pylon
  6. 6.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an igloo (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a bicycle frame
  7. 7.🔺 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?
  8. 8.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) a crane arm (d) a shelf on two brackets
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  12. 12.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) take off a side (c) add a diagonal brace (d) paint it
  13. 13.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) floating (c) squeezed (compression) (d) stretched (tension)
  15. 15.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) triangle (c) rectangle (d) square
  16. 16.🔺 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?
  17. 17.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  19. 19.True or false: a fort gateway uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  21. 21.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a plank over a drain (d) a truss bridge side
  22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  23. 23.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) an electric pylon (c) a bicycle frame (d) a shelf on two brackets
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  25. 25.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a lintel over a door (c) a roof truss (d) a fort gateway
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  28. 28.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) an electric pylon (c) a fort gateway (d) a planetarium roof
  29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  30. 30.🔺 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
  31. 31.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
  32. 32.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔺 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?
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.🔺 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?
  36. 36.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🔺 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
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  39. 39.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it works in compression (c) it is very light (d) it bends easily
  40. 40.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

  1. dome
  2. a crane arm
  3. 25
  4. False
  5. an igloo
  6. a bicycle frame
  7. 19
  8. True
  9. a planetarium roof
  10. 9
  11. triangle
  12. add a diagonal brace
  13. True
  14. squeezed (compression)
  15. triangle
  16. 3
  17. False
  18. beam
  19. False
  20. arch
  21. a truss bridge side
  22. triangle
  23. a shelf on two brackets
  24. beam
  25. a roof truss
  26. 21
  27. arch
  28. a fort gateway
  29. dome
  30. rigid
  31. wobbly
  32. True
  33. 15
  34. 23
  35. 8
  36. False
  37. rigid
  38. beam
  39. it works in compression
  40. False

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