Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 288 · 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.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it works in compression
5. 5.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) a planetarium roof (c) a truss bridge side (d) a fort gateway
9. 9.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔺 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?
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
13. 13.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a crane arm (c) a plank over a drain (d) a curved stone doorway
14. 14.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 8 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
16. 16.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an electric pylon (c) a fort gateway (d) an igloo
17. 17.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) floating (c) stretched (tension) (d) not affected
18. 18.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) paint it (c) make it bigger (d) take off a side
19. 19.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a bicycle frame (d) a planetarium roof
21. 21.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a truss bridge side (c) a slab over a canal (d) an igloo
24. 24.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a round palace roof (d) a crane arm
26. 26.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
27. 27.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
32. 32.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a round palace roof (c) a planetarium roof (d) a plank over a drain
33. 33.🔺 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?
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) rigid (b) wobbly
35. 35.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a bicycle frame (c) an electric pylon (d) a curved stone doorway
36. 36.🔺 A flat frame has 8 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.🔺 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

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