Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 403 · 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.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
5. 5.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) paint it (c) take off a side (d) add a diagonal brace
6. 6.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a crane arm (c) an electric pylon (d) a shelf on two brackets
7. 7.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) triangle (d) square
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 10 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
10. 10.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) an old stone bridge (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a roof truss
11. 11.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an electric pylon (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a fort gateway
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
13. 13.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
17. 17.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a roof truss (c) a crane arm (d) a truss bridge side
19. 19.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.🔺 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
21. 21.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a planetarium roof (c) a round palace roof (d) an old stone bridge
22. 22.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
24. 24.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is very light (c) it is hollow (d) it bends easily
27. 27.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) floating (c) not affected (d) squeezed (compression)
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) a crane arm (c) a round palace roof (d) a curved stone doorway
30. 30.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a bicycle frame (d) a roof truss
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
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.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.🔺 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
40. 40.🔺 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?

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