← Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams lesson New set →

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 345 · 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.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.🔺 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?
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  5. 5.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) a crane arm (d) a curved stone doorway
  6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  7. 7.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) a lintel over a door (d) a fort gateway
  8. 8.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) floating (c) stretched (tension) (d) squeezed (compression)
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) triangle (c) rectangle (d) square
  15. 15.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔺 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?
  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) rigid (b) wobbly
  18. 18.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is hollow (c) it is very light (d) it works in compression
  19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  20. 20.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an igloo (b) an old stone bridge (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a crane arm
  21. 21.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a bicycle frame (c) an electric pylon (d) a shelf on two brackets
  23. 23.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a round palace roof (c) an old stone bridge (d) a bicycle frame
  25. 25.🔺 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
  26. 26.🔺 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
  27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  29. 29.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a roof truss (b) a bicycle frame (c) a crane arm (d) a curved stone doorway
  30. 30.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  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.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.🔺 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
  36. 36.🔺 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?
  37. 37.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) a planetarium roof (c) a fort gateway (d) a plank over a drain
  39. 39.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.🔺 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

Answer key

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

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