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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 293 · 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.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  3. 3.🔺 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
  4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a truss bridge side (c) an igloo (d) a slab over a canal
  5. 5.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) square (c) hexagon (d) rectangle
  6. 6.🔺 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?
  7. 7.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔺 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
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
  11. 11.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a planetarium roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) an electric pylon
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) take off a side (c) add a diagonal brace (d) paint it
  14. 14.🔺 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?
  15. 15.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  17. 17.🔺 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?
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  19. 19.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  21. 21.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is hollow (c) it works in compression (d) it is very light
  23. 23.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a fort gateway (c) an electric pylon (d) an old stone bridge
  24. 24.True or false: a fort gateway uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an igloo (d) a crane arm
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  30. 30.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 10 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 8 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  32. 32.🔺 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?
  33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.🔺 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?
  36. 36.🔺 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?
  37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  38. 38.True or false: a plank over a drain uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an old stone bridge (d) a lintel over a door

Answer key

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

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