← Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams lesson New set →

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 434 · 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: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  4. 4.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) an igloo (d) a crane arm
  5. 5.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a bicycle frame (c) a lintel over a door (d) a curved stone doorway
  6. 6.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an electric pylon (c) a crane arm (d) a planetarium roof
  7. 7.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an electric pylon (b) a plank over a drain (c) a lintel over a door (d) a curved stone doorway
  12. 12.🔺 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
  13. 13.🔺 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?
  14. 14.🔺 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?
  15. 15.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a lintel over a door (c) a plank over a drain (d) an old stone bridge
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  21. 21.🔺 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
  22. 22.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  26. 26.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) an old stone bridge (c) a roof truss (d) a planetarium roof
  27. 27.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🔺 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?
  29. 29.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a fort gateway (c) an old stone bridge (d) a roof truss
  30. 30.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) add a diagonal brace (c) make it bigger (d) paint it
  31. 31.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) triangle
  32. 32.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  33. 33.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  36. 36.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is hollow (c) it is very light (d) it works in compression
  37. 37.🔺 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?
  38. 38.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
  40. 40.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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