Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 378 · 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 shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) hexagon
2. 2.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a planetarium roof (c) a roof truss (d) a shelf on two brackets
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
6. 6.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) paint it (c) make it bigger (d) add a diagonal brace
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
10. 10.🔺 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?
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
12. 12.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔺 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
14. 14.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a crane arm (b) a fort gateway (c) a plank over a drain (d) an igloo
16. 16.🔺 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
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 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?
19. 19.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) not affected
20. 20.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a roof truss (d) a planetarium roof
22. 22.True or false: a round palace roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an igloo (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a lintel over a door
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: a plank over a drain uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
29. 29.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it works in compression (c) it is hollow (d) it bends easily
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
33. 33.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a round palace roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a fort gateway
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
35. 35.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a round palace roof (c) a plank over a drain (d) a planetarium roof
36. 36.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a bicycle frame (c) a round palace roof (d) a lintel over a door
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
39. 39.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔺 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?

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