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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 365 · 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.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  3. 3.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) an igloo (c) an electric pylon (d) a fort gateway
  4. 4.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  6. 6.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
  7. 7.🔺 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?
  8. 8.🔺 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?
  9. 9.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  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.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a crane arm (c) a round palace roof (d) a lintel over a door
  15. 15.🔺 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
  16. 16.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a roof truss (c) a round palace roof (d) an old stone bridge
  17. 17.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) square (c) hexagon (d) triangle
  18. 18.🔺 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
  19. 19.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) add a diagonal brace (c) paint it (d) make it bigger
  20. 20.🔺 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?
  21. 21.🔺 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?
  22. 22.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  25. 25.🔺 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?
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it works in compression
  28. 28.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) an electric pylon (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an igloo
  30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  31. 31.True or false: a planetarium roof uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  34. 34.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🔺 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?
  36. 36.🔺 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?
  37. 37.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a fort gateway (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a planetarium roof
  38. 38.🔺 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
  39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  40. 40.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an electric pylon (b) a bicycle frame (c) a round palace roof (d) a crane arm

Answer key

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

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