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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 379 · 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 of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a roof truss (d) a slab over a canal
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  3. 3.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🔺 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?
  5. 5.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  7. 7.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🔺 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?
  9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  10. 10.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) square (c) hexagon (d) rectangle
  11. 11.🔺 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
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) add a diagonal brace (c) make it bigger (d) take off a side
  14. 14.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
  16. 16.🔺 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?
  17. 17.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is very light (c) it is hollow (d) it bends easily
  18. 18.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a crane arm (c) a truss bridge side (d) a plank over a drain
  19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
  20. 20.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an electric pylon (c) a roof truss (d) a curved stone doorway
  21. 21.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  25. 25.🔺 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?
  26. 26.🔺 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
  27. 27.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a truss bridge side (c) a bicycle frame (d) a fort gateway
  28. 28.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  30. 30.🔺 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?
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  33. 33.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
  34. 34.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a plank over a drain (c) a truss bridge side (d) an old stone bridge
  35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  36. 36.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  38. 38.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🔺 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?
  40. 40.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses an arch. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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