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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 428 · 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.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  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 strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  5. 5.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a round palace roof (c) a fort gateway (d) a crane arm
  8. 8.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) square (c) triangle (d) rectangle
  9. 9.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  12. 12.🔺 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
  13. 13.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) add a diagonal brace (c) take off a side (d) paint it
  14. 14.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an electric pylon (b) an igloo (c) an old stone bridge (d) a round palace roof
  15. 15.🔺 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
  16. 16.🔺 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
  17. 17.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔺 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?
  19. 19.🔺 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?
  20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a lintel over a door (c) a plank over a drain (d) a truss bridge side
  21. 21.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a roof truss (c) an igloo (d) an old stone bridge
  24. 24.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) an igloo (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
  25. 25.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 3 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
  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 strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  28. 28.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.🔺 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
  30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  31. 31.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  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.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a planetarium roof (c) an electric pylon (d) a lintel over a door
  39. 39.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid

Answer key

  1. False
  2. beam
  3. 5
  4. arch
  5. False
  6. False
  7. a crane arm
  8. triangle
  9. False
  10. False
  11. triangle
  12. it works in compression
  13. add a diagonal brace
  14. an electric pylon
  15. rigid
  16. wobbly
  17. True
  18. 9
  19. 7
  20. a truss bridge side
  21. False
  22. False
  23. a roof truss
  24. an igloo
  25. rigid
  26. wobbly
  27. beam
  28. False
  29. rigid
  30. triangle
  31. True
  32. triangle
  33. triangle
  34. 11
  35. arch
  36. 1
  37. True
  38. a lintel over a door
  39. True
  40. wobbly

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