Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 357 · 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.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
2. 2.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it is very light (c) it bends easily (d) it works in compression
3. 3.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an electric pylon (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a slab over a canal (d) a round palace roof
4. 4.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) an igloo (c) a truss bridge side (d) a plank over a drain
5. 5.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) paint it (c) take off a side (d) make it bigger
6. 6.🔺 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
7. 7.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.🔺 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?
11. 11.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) not affected (c) stretched (tension) (d) squeezed (compression)
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
13. 13.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a bicycle frame (d) an igloo
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
16. 16.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a crane arm (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
17. 17.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 7 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
18. 18.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔺 A flat frame has 12 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.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔺 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?
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.🔺 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?
24. 24.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a slab over a canal (c) a crane arm (d) a curved stone doorway
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.🔺 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
28. 28.True or false: a fort gateway uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a round palace roof (c) a fort gateway (d) a slab over a canal
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
31. 31.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) square (c) hexagon (d) triangle
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
35. 35.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a lintel over a door (c) a crane arm (d) a roof truss
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a lintel over a door (d) a fort gateway
38. 38.🔺 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
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
40. 40.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) an old stone bridge (c) a crane arm (d) a bicycle frame

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