← Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams lesson New set →

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 291 · 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.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) triangle
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  4. 4.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🔺 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?
  6. 6.🔺 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
  7. 7.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  10. 10.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) a crane arm (c) a bicycle frame (d) a curved stone doorway
  11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  12. 12.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔺 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?
  14. 14.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  16. 16.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🔺 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?
  18. 18.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) an igloo (c) an electric pylon (d) a lintel over a door
  19. 19.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a plank over a drain (c) a slab over a canal (d) a roof truss
  21. 21.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is hollow (c) it is very light (d) it bends easily
  22. 22.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a crane arm
  23. 23.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) an old stone bridge (d) a round palace roof
  24. 24.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔺 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
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  28. 28.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a roof truss (b) a truss bridge side (c) a fort gateway (d) a planetarium roof
  29. 29.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  33. 33.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a bicycle frame (c) a round palace roof (d) a shelf on two brackets
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  36. 36.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  37. 37.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a lintel over a door (c) a crane arm (d) a curved stone doorway
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  39. 39.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) add a diagonal brace (c) paint it (d) take off a side
  40. 40.🔺 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?

Answer key

  1. False
  2. triangle
  3. beam
  4. True
  5. 5
  6. rigid
  7. False
  8. True
  9. arch
  10. a curved stone doorway
  11. beam
  12. False
  13. 2
  14. True
  15. dome
  16. False
  17. 19
  18. an electric pylon
  19. rigid
  20. a roof truss
  21. it works in compression
  22. an old stone bridge
  23. a round palace roof
  24. False
  25. wobbly
  26. 17
  27. triangle
  28. a fort gateway
  29. False
  30. dome
  31. arch
  32. arch
  33. a shelf on two brackets
  34. 8
  35. triangle
  36. rigid
  37. a lintel over a door
  38. beam
  39. add a diagonal brace
  40. 9

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