Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 387 · 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 an arch? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a plank over a drain (c) an igloo (d) an old stone bridge
2. 2.🔺 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?
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.🔺 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?
5. 5.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a slab over a canal (c) a roof truss (d) an igloo
6. 6.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) triangle
7. 7.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) a truss bridge side (c) an igloo (d) a plank over a drain
15. 15.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
16. 16.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
18. 18.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.True or false: a round palace roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) paint it (c) add a diagonal brace (d) take off a side
21. 21.🔺 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?
22. 22.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
23. 23.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) floating (c) not affected (d) squeezed (compression)
24. 24.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 2 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
25. 25.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a roof truss (c) an old stone bridge (d) a shelf on two brackets
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 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
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
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.🔺 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
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
36. 36.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a crane arm (c) a round palace roof (d) an old stone bridge
37. 37.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
39. 39.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) an old stone bridge (c) a roof truss (d) a fort gateway
40. 40.🔺 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?

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