Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 302 · 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 13 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
3. 3.True or false: an old stone bridge uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 6 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) an electric pylon (c) an old stone bridge (d) a round palace roof
10. 10.🔺 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?
11. 11.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it is very light
12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a truss bridge side (c) a round palace roof (d) a shelf on two brackets
13. 13.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) an old stone bridge (c) a plank over a drain (d) a roof truss
14. 14.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) add a diagonal brace (c) take off a side (d) paint it
15. 15.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
17. 17.🔺 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
18. 18.🔺 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?
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
20. 20.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a fort gateway (c) a roof truss (d) a plank over a drain
21. 21.🔺 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?
22. 22.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) hexagon
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a lintel over a door (c) a fort gateway (d) a round palace roof
29. 29.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
30. 30.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🔺 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
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an igloo (c) a slab over a canal (d) a plank over a drain
37. 37.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a fort gateway (c) a lintel over a door (d) a bicycle frame
38. 38.🔺 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
39. 39.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔺 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?

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