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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 44 · 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.

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  1. 1.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  2. 2.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🔺 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
  4. 4.True or false: an old stone bridge uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  6. 6.🔺 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
  7. 7.🔺 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
  8. 8.🔺 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
  9. 9.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a fort gateway (c) a lintel over a door (d) a shelf on two brackets
  14. 14.🔺 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?
  15. 15.🔺 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?
  16. 16.🔺 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?
  17. 17.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a plank over a drain (c) an old stone bridge (d) a crane arm
  18. 18.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🔺 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
  20. 20.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔺 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
  23. 23.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) squeezed (compression) (c) not affected (d) stretched (tension)
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  25. 25.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  27. 27.🔺 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?
  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 shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) triangle (d) square
  30. 30.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) an igloo (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a fort gateway
  31. 31.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🔺 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
  33. 33.🔺 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?
  34. 34.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  37. 37.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a roof truss (d) an old stone bridge
  39. 39.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.🔺 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

Answer key

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

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