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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 417 · 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.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) floating (c) stretched (tension) (d) squeezed (compression)
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a planetarium roof (c) a roof truss (d) a lintel over a door
  5. 5.True or false: a lintel over a door uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🔺 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
  7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  8. 8.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a fort gateway (c) a slab over a canal (d) an igloo
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 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?
  14. 14.🔺 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
  15. 15.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
  19. 19.🔺 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?
  20. 20.🔺 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?
  21. 21.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 9 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 roof truss use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  24. 24.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) triangle
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  28. 28.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a crane arm (c) a fort gateway (d) a shelf on two brackets
  29. 29.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) a lintel over a door (c) a planetarium roof (d) a truss bridge side
  31. 31.🔺 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
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  33. 33.🔺 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?
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  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.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a plank over a drain (c) an igloo (d) a roof truss
  38. 38.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it works in compression (c) it is hollow (d) it is very light
  39. 39.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a crane arm (d) an old stone bridge
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome

Answer key

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

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