Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 390 · 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 strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
2. 2.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) an igloo (c) a slab over a canal (d) a crane arm
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a slab over a canal (d) a crane arm
5. 5.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a slab over a canal (c) a roof truss (d) a shelf on two brackets
6. 6.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
10. 10.🔺 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
11. 11.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a truss bridge side (c) a round palace roof (d) a fort gateway
12. 12.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
13. 13.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
14. 14.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
18. 18.🔺 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?
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.🔺 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?
22. 22.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) an igloo (d) a crane arm
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it is very light (c) it works in compression (d) it bends easily
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.🔺 A flat frame has 4 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.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
29. 29.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) an igloo (d) a curved stone doorway
30. 30.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) square
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) make it bigger (c) take off a side (d) add a diagonal brace
37. 37.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a round palace roof (c) a fort gateway (d) a curved stone doorway
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.🔺 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?

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