Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 42 · 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.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
4. 4.🔺 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
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
7. 7.🔺 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?
8. 8.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
10. 10.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a plank over a drain (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
11. 11.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it bends easily (c) it works in compression (d) it is very light
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.🔺 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?
14. 14.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a roof truss (c) a fort gateway (d) a plank over a drain
15. 15.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a plank over a drain (d) a curved stone doorway
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an igloo (d) a shelf on two brackets
26. 26.🔺 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
27. 27.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) a planetarium roof (c) an old stone bridge (d) a lintel over a door
28. 28.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) add a diagonal brace (c) make it bigger (d) take off a side
30. 30.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 14 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
31. 31.🔺 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
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
33. 33.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) rectangle (c) square (d) triangle
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.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a round palace roof (c) a bicycle frame (d) a curved stone doorway
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
37. 37.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) an old stone bridge (c) a lintel over a door (d) a roof truss
38. 38.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a round palace roof (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a truss bridge side
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid

Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids