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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 41 · 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 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
  2. 2.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) squeezed (compression) (c) not affected (d) stretched (tension)
  3. 3.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a fort gateway (d) a roof truss
  5. 5.🔺 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?
  6. 6.🔺 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?
  7. 7.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  9. 9.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.True or false: an electric pylon uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is hollow (c) it bends easily (d) it is very light
  14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  15. 15.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a truss bridge side (c) a fort gateway (d) a plank over a drain
  16. 16.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) hexagon (c) triangle (d) rectangle
  17. 17.🔺 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?
  18. 18.🔺 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?
  19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
  22. 22.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) an old stone bridge (c) a slab over a canal (d) a shelf on two brackets
  23. 23.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a truss bridge side (c) an igloo (d) a curved stone doorway
  24. 24.🔺 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
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  26. 26.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a fort gateway (c) a lintel over a door (d) a curved stone doorway
  27. 27.🔺 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?
  28. 28.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) an electric pylon (d) a roof truss
  29. 29.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  30. 30.🔺 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
  31. 31.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.🔺 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?
  36. 36.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) take off a side (c) make it bigger (d) add a diagonal brace
  37. 37.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a bicycle frame (c) a truss bridge side (d) a lintel over a door
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  39. 39.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome

Answer key

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

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