Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 262 · 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 triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a plank over a drain (c) a crane arm (d) a shelf on two brackets
2. 2.🔺 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
3. 3.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a round palace roof (d) a slab over a canal
4. 4.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) square
5. 5.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a slab over a canal (c) a bicycle frame (d) a fort gateway
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
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 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?
11. 11.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a slab over a canal (c) a planetarium roof (d) a fort gateway
12. 12.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: a round palace roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) a roof truss (c) a fort gateway (d) a shelf on two brackets
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
19. 19.🔺 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
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 2 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
23. 23.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) make it bigger (c) paint it (d) take off a side
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a planetarium roof (d) a round palace roof
28. 28.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) an old stone bridge (c) a planetarium roof (d) a shelf on two brackets
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
35. 35.🔺 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
36. 36.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a plank over a drain (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a roof truss
39. 39.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a crane arm (c) an igloo (d) a lintel over a door
40. 40.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an electric pylon (b) a plank over a drain (c) a fort gateway (d) a curved stone doorway

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