Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 419 · 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 truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an electric pylon (b) a truss bridge side (c) a slab over a canal (d) a planetarium roof
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) square
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔺 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?
11. 11.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an old stone bridge (c) an electric pylon (d) a curved stone doorway
13. 13.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
15. 15.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) make it bigger (c) paint it (d) take off a side
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
18. 18.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a planetarium roof (d) an old stone bridge
19. 19.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a roof truss (c) a crane arm (d) a bicycle frame
20. 20.🔺 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
21. 21.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a truss bridge side (d) a shelf on two brackets
22. 22.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
27. 27.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) an electric pylon (d) a truss bridge side
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 5 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
31. 31.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a crane arm (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a fort gateway
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
33. 33.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a lintel over a door (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a roof truss
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.🔺 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
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an igloo (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a bicycle frame
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a round palace roof (c) a crane arm (d) a curved stone doorway

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