Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

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

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