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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

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

Answer key

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

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