Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 283 · 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.🔺 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?
2. 2.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) floating (c) not affected (d) squeezed (compression)
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
4. 4.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) hexagon
9. 9.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
10. 10.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a roof truss (d) a bicycle frame
11. 11.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
13. 13.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔺 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
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is hollow (c) it bends easily (d) it is very light
18. 18.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a slab over a canal (c) a truss bridge side (d) a curved stone doorway
19. 19.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a roof truss (c) a truss bridge side (d) a slab over a canal
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a bicycle frame (c) an old stone bridge (d) an electric pylon
25. 25.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an igloo (b) a slab over a canal (c) a lintel over a door (d) a curved stone doorway
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
30. 30.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) an old stone bridge (d) a crane arm
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an electric pylon (b) a plank over a drain (c) an igloo (d) a planetarium roof
33. 33.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔺 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
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
36. 36.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a fort gateway (c) a crane arm (d) an old stone bridge
37. 37.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam

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