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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 315 · 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 planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) square (d) triangle
  3. 3.🔺 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?
  4. 4.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a crane arm (c) an old stone bridge (d) a round palace roof
  5. 5.🔺 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
  6. 6.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  8. 8.🔺 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?
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🔺 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
  12. 12.🔺 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
  13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  16. 16.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a planetarium roof (c) a roof truss (d) an electric pylon
  17. 17.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a round palace roof (c) a planetarium roof (d) a plank over a drain
  18. 18.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🔺 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?
  22. 22.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) stretched (tension)
  23. 23.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an igloo (d) an old stone bridge
  24. 24.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔺 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?
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.🔺 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?
  28. 28.🔺 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?
  29. 29.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  30. 30.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  32. 32.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  34. 34.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 3 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  37. 37.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a truss bridge side (b) an old stone bridge (c) a slab over a canal (d) a fort gateway
  38. 38.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
  39. 39.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a planetarium roof (c) an electric pylon (d) a bicycle frame
  40. 40.🔺 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?

Answer key

  1. False
  2. triangle
  3. 17
  4. a round palace roof
  5. wobbly
  6. True
  7. 31
  8. 27
  9. 6
  10. True
  11. wobbly
  12. it works in compression
  13. dome
  14. triangle
  15. dome
  16. a planetarium roof
  17. a plank over a drain
  18. True
  19. False
  20. True
  21. 5
  22. squeezed (compression)
  23. a bicycle frame
  24. True
  25. 3
  26. 21
  27. 1
  28. 4
  29. wobbly
  30. False
  31. triangle
  32. True
  33. arch
  34. False
  35. 7
  36. beam
  37. a truss bridge side
  38. a fort gateway
  39. a lintel over a door
  40. 2

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