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

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 441 · 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.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
  2. 2.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  5. 5.🔺 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?
  6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  7. 7.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a roof truss (c) a round palace roof (d) a slab over a canal
  9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  10. 10.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) hexagon (c) triangle (d) rectangle
  14. 14.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a round palace roof (c) a lintel over a door (d) a bicycle frame
  15. 15.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔺 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?
  17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  18. 18.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 11 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  19. 19.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) floating (c) not affected (d) squeezed (compression)
  20. 20.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) a slab over a canal (c) a truss bridge side (d) a fort gateway
  21. 21.🔺 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?
  22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  23. 23.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  25. 25.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  28. 28.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  29. 29.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.True or false: a round palace roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🔺 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?
  32. 32.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a roof truss (c) an electric pylon (d) a crane arm
  33. 33.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.🔺 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?
  36. 36.True or false: a lintel over a door uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) a plank over a drain (c) a lintel over a door (d) an old stone bridge
  39. 39.🔺 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
  40. 40.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) add a diagonal brace (c) paint it (d) make it bigger

Answer key

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

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