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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 265 · 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.

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

Answer key

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

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