Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 364 · 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 of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a fort gateway (c) a planetarium roof (d) a lintel over a door
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) a truss bridge side (c) an old stone bridge (d) a roof truss
4. 4.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
6. 6.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) make it bigger (c) take off a side (d) add a diagonal brace
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
8. 8.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a fort gateway (c) an igloo (d) an old stone bridge
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) square (c) rectangle (d) triangle
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.🔺 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
14. 14.🔺 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
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
16. 16.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
18. 18.🔺 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?
19. 19.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a fort gateway (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an electric pylon
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.🔺 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?
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
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) wobbly (b) rigid
27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
28. 28.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an electric pylon (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a roof truss (d) a lintel over a door
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
31. 31.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) an igloo (c) a plank over a drain (d) a roof truss
33. 33.🔺 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?
34. 34.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) a planetarium roof (c) a fort gateway (d) a slab over a canal
35. 35.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an igloo (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a plank over a drain (d) a lintel over a door
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 truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a crane arm (c) a plank over a drain (d) an old stone bridge
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) floating (c) squeezed (compression) (d) stretched (tension)

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