Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 367 · 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 an igloo use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
2. 2.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) triangle (c) hexagon (d) rectangle
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
6. 6.🔺 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
7. 7.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) an igloo (d) an old stone bridge
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
10. 10.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
11. 11.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) make it bigger (c) paint it (d) take off a side
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
16. 16.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a roof truss (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a fort gateway
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔺 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
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.True or false: an old stone bridge uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a roof truss (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an igloo
26. 26.🔺 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
27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
28. 28.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🔺 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
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
35. 35.🔺 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
36. 36.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a slab over a canal (d) a roof truss
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 9 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?

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