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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 31 · 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.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  2. 2.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it bends easily (c) it works in compression (d) it is hollow
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a crane arm (c) an electric pylon (d) a plank over a drain
  5. 5.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a fort gateway (c) an electric pylon (d) an igloo
  6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  7. 7.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) not affected
  8. 8.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an igloo (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a lintel over a door (d) a crane arm
  9. 9.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a roof truss (c) a lintel over a door (d) a curved stone doorway
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  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.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🔺 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?
  17. 17.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a planetarium roof (c) an igloo (d) a crane arm
  18. 18.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a plank over a drain (c) an igloo (d) an old stone bridge
  20. 20.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) triangle (c) rectangle (d) square
  22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  23. 23.🔺 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
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  25. 25.🔺 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?
  26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  27. 27.🔺 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
  28. 28.True or false: a lintel over a door uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a roof truss (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an igloo
  30. 30.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🔺 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?
  33. 33.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an igloo (c) a fort gateway (d) a round palace roof
  36. 36.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  37. 37.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🔺 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?
  39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  40. 40.🔺 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

Answer key

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

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