Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 427 · 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 an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
2. 2.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a roof truss (c) an igloo (d) a planetarium roof
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.🔺 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
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
8. 8.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a roof truss (c) a planetarium roof (d) a fort gateway
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
11. 11.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 6 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
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 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?
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) a plank over a drain (c) an electric pylon (d) a round palace roof
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
17. 17.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) a plank over a drain (c) an igloo (d) a lintel over a door
18. 18.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) make it bigger (c) add a diagonal brace (d) take off a side
19. 19.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an electric pylon (c) a planetarium roof (d) a plank over a drain
21. 21.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) an igloo (c) a round palace roof (d) a lintel over a door
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) stretched (tension)
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.🔺 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
28. 28.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a bicycle frame (d) a plank over a drain
32. 32.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
35. 35.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 3 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
40. 40.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True

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