Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 370 · 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 bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
2. 2.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is very light (c) it bends easily (d) it is hollow
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
4. 4.🔺 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?
5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
6. 6.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an old stone bridge (c) a crane arm (d) an igloo
7. 7.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a slab over a canal (d) a plank over a drain
8. 8.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔺 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
10. 10.🔺 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
11. 11.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating
12. 12.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a roof truss (c) a plank over a drain (d) a crane arm
13. 13.🔺 A frame shaped like a square is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
15. 15.🔺 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
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
19. 19.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a slab over a canal (c) a planetarium roof (d) a crane arm
22. 22.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a roof truss (c) a bicycle frame (d) a shelf on two brackets
23. 23.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an old stone bridge (c) a roof truss (d) an igloo
24. 24.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a slab over a canal (c) an electric pylon (d) an old stone bridge
26. 26.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) square (c) triangle (d) hexagon
27. 27.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a crane arm (c) a planetarium roof (d) a slab over a canal
31. 31.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a bicycle frame (c) a roof truss (d) an electric pylon
32. 32.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a roof truss (d) a planetarium roof
33. 33.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
35. 35.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
38. 38.🔺 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
39. 39.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam

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