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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 307 · 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 plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  3. 3.🔺 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?
  4. 4.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) triangle (c) square (d) rectangle
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  6. 6.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it bends easily (c) it works in compression (d) it is very light
  7. 7.🔺 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?
  8. 8.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an igloo (d) a round palace roof
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 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?
  14. 14.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a crane arm (c) an old stone bridge (d) a bicycle frame
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  17. 17.🔺 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
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  19. 19.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an igloo (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an electric pylon (d) a slab over a canal
  20. 20.🔺 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
  21. 21.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔺 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
  23. 23.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a plank over a drain (c) an igloo (d) a planetarium roof
  24. 24.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a round palace roof (c) an old stone bridge (d) a planetarium roof
  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) wobbly (b) rigid
  26. 26.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a fort gateway (c) a slab over a canal (d) an igloo
  27. 27.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🔺 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
  29. 29.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) make it bigger (c) take off a side (d) add a diagonal brace
  30. 30.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a crane arm (d) a round palace roof
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  33. 33.🔺 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
  34. 34.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) not affected
  36. 36.🔺 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
  37. 37.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  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.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) a fort gateway (c) a plank over a drain (d) a planetarium roof

Answer key

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

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