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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 29 · 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.

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

Answer key

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

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