Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 331 · 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.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
4. 4.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a slab over a canal (c) a roof truss (d) an igloo
7. 7.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
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) wobbly (b) rigid
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
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 of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a roof truss
12. 12.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
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.🔺 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?
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
16. 16.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) floating (c) stretched (tension) (d) squeezed (compression)
17. 17.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a lintel over a door (d) a curved stone doorway
18. 18.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an old stone bridge (c) a slab over a canal (d) an electric pylon
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a truss bridge side (c) a crane arm (d) a slab over a canal
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
22. 22.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
23. 23.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 9 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a lintel over a door (c) a truss bridge side (d) a round palace roof
28. 28.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 14 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) triangle (c) square (d) rectangle
31. 31.🔺 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
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
33. 33.🔺 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?
34. 34.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a plank over a drain (c) an old stone bridge (d) a bicycle frame
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a planetarium roof (d) a roof truss
37. 37.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an old stone bridge (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a planetarium roof
38. 38.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔺 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
40. 40.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an electric pylon (b) a roof truss (c) a fort gateway (d) an igloo

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