Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

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

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