Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 26 · 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 strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
2. 2.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it is very light
3. 3.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an electric pylon (d) a round palace roof
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
5. 5.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a round palace roof (c) a crane arm (d) an igloo
6. 6.True or false: a planetarium roof uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an igloo (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a roof truss
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
9. 9.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 A flat frame has 7 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.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a crane arm (c) a lintel over a door (d) a roof truss
15. 15.🔺 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
16. 16.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) rectangle (c) square (d) triangle
19. 19.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a slab over a canal (c) a crane arm (d) an old stone bridge
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
22. 22.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) paint it (c) add a diagonal brace (d) make it bigger
23. 23.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
27. 27.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a planetarium roof (d) a lintel over a door
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 5 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
34. 34.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a round palace roof (c) a crane arm (d) a bicycle frame
35. 35.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a planetarium roof (c) a plank over a drain (d) a curved stone doorway
40. 40.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) False (b) True

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