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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 351 · 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.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it works in compression (c) it bends easily (d) it is very light
  2. 2.🔺 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
  3. 3.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) square
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  6. 6.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.🔺 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
  12. 12.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  14. 14.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a bicycle frame (c) an electric pylon (d) a roof truss
  16. 16.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) an old stone bridge (d) a bicycle frame
  17. 17.🔺 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?
  18. 18.🔺 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?
  19. 19.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a slab over a canal (d) a curved stone doorway
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  21. 21.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  25. 25.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  26. 26.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an igloo (d) a roof truss
  29. 29.🔺 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
  30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  31. 31.🔺 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?
  32. 32.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a truss bridge side (c) a fort gateway (d) a roof truss
  33. 33.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a planetarium roof (c) a fort gateway (d) a roof truss
  34. 34.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  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.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🔺 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?
  38. 38.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) make it bigger (c) add a diagonal brace (d) paint it
  39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  40. 40.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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