Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 355 · 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.🔺 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
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 11 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
5. 5.True or false: a round palace roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a slab over a canal (d) an igloo
7. 7.🔺 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
8. 8.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) paint it (c) add a diagonal brace (d) make it bigger
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
10. 10.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
12. 12.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a crane arm (c) a fort gateway (d) a plank over a drain
13. 13.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a planetarium roof (c) a roof truss (d) a lintel over a door
17. 17.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
19. 19.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a bicycle frame (c) a crane arm (d) a round palace roof
21. 21.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 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
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
27. 27.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a planetarium roof (c) an old stone bridge (d) a shelf on two brackets
28. 28.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
30. 30.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
33. 33.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an igloo (c) an electric pylon (d) a shelf on two brackets
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) a round palace roof (c) a roof truss (d) a plank over a drain
38. 38.True or false: a fort gateway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) square (c) rectangle (d) triangle

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