Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 385 · 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 of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a lintel over a door (c) a crane arm (d) a slab over a canal
2. 2.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it is hollow (c) it bends easily (d) it works in compression
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.🔺 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
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
7. 7.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a truss bridge side (d) a roof truss
8. 8.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
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 shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) triangle (c) square (d) hexagon
11. 11.🔺 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
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
16. 16.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a roof truss (b) a lintel over a door (c) a round palace roof (d) an old stone bridge
17. 17.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) stretched (tension)
18. 18.🔺 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?
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a bicycle frame (c) a fort gateway (d) an old stone bridge
21. 21.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a round palace roof (c) an igloo (d) a roof truss
22. 22.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 14 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
25. 25.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a slab over a canal (c) a planetarium roof (d) a crane arm
26. 26.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) a plank over a drain (c) an electric pylon (d) an igloo
28. 28.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a truss bridge side (c) a crane arm (d) a roof truss
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 of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a roof truss (c) a lintel over a door (d) an old stone bridge
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 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
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) an electric pylon (c) a planetarium roof (d) a plank over a drain
39. 39.🔺 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
40. 40.🔺 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?

Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids