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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 366 · 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) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  2. 2.True or false: a lintel over a door uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  5. 5.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔺 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?
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  12. 12.🔺 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
  13. 13.🔺 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?
  14. 14.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it works in compression (c) it is hollow (d) it is very light
  15. 15.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a lintel over a door (c) a bicycle frame (d) an igloo
  16. 16.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🔺 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?
  18. 18.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) triangle (c) square (d) hexagon
  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.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a truss bridge side (c) a lintel over a door (d) a bicycle frame
  21. 21.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
  22. 22.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
  24. 24.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 4 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  25. 25.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a slab over a canal (d) an old stone bridge
  26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  27. 27.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🔺 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
  29. 29.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔺 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
  31. 31.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  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.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) an electric pylon (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
  38. 38.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) floating (c) squeezed (compression) (d) stretched (tension)
  39. 39.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a lintel over a door (d) an electric pylon
  40. 40.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a bicycle frame (c) a crane arm (d) a slab over a canal

Answer key

  1. dome
  2. False
  3. beam
  4. triangle
  5. True
  6. True
  7. True
  8. 27
  9. 7
  10. beam
  11. arch
  12. wobbly
  13. 25
  14. it works in compression
  15. a bicycle frame
  16. True
  17. 1
  18. triangle
  19. 9
  20. a lintel over a door
  21. wobbly
  22. True
  23. wobbly
  24. 9
  25. an old stone bridge
  26. triangle
  27. True
  28. rigid
  29. True
  30. add a diagonal brace
  31. False
  32. wobbly
  33. arch
  34. 2
  35. 5
  36. False
  37. a fort gateway
  38. squeezed (compression)
  39. an electric pylon
  40. a slab over a canal

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