Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 438 · 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.🔺 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?
2. 2.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it works in compression (c) it is very light (d) it is hollow
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
4. 4.🔺 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?
5. 5.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an electric pylon (b) a lintel over a door (c) a planetarium roof (d) an igloo
6. 6.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔺 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?
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
9. 9.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) a truss bridge side (c) a planetarium roof (d) a bicycle frame
10. 10.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
12. 12.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a round palace roof (c) an electric pylon (d) a slab over a canal
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 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?
19. 19.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
22. 22.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) hexagon (c) triangle (d) rectangle
23. 23.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an electric pylon (c) a lintel over a door (d) an old stone bridge
24. 24.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a lintel over a door (d) a shelf on two brackets
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
26. 26.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a slab over a canal (c) a round palace roof (d) a fort gateway
27. 27.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
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.🔺 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?
32. 32.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
34. 34.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) not affected
35. 35.🔺 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
36. 36.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a bicycle frame (d) an igloo
37. 37.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an igloo (c) a plank over a drain (d) a planetarium roof

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