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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 394 · 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 shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) triangle
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  4. 4.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it is hollow (c) it works in compression (d) it bends easily
  7. 7.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) stretched (tension) (c) not affected (d) floating
  8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  9. 9.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a slab over a canal (c) a crane arm (d) a fort gateway
  11. 11.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a plank over a drain (c) a roof truss (d) a truss bridge side
  12. 12.True or false: an electric pylon uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a plank over a drain (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a round palace roof
  14. 14.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a plank over a drain (c) a crane arm (d) a round palace roof
  15. 15.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) an electric pylon (c) a roof truss (d) a plank over a drain
  16. 16.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  21. 21.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  25. 25.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  27. 27.🔺 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?
  28. 28.True or false: a lintel over a door uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  30. 30.🔺 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?
  31. 31.🔺 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?
  32. 32.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.🔺 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?
  34. 34.🔺 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
  35. 35.🔺 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?
  36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  37. 37.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a round palace roof (c) a roof truss (d) an igloo
  38. 38.🔺 A flat frame has 8 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
  39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  40. 40.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a fort gateway (c) a plank over a drain (d) a crane arm

Answer key

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

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