Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 449 · 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 11 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
2. 2.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) an old stone bridge (d) an electric pylon
3. 3.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) paint it (c) add a diagonal brace (d) take off a side
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it works in compression (c) it is very light (d) it bends easily
10. 10.True or false: a plank over a drain uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a roof truss (d) an old stone bridge
14. 14.🔺 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
15. 15.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a crane arm (b) a planetarium roof (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a round palace roof
16. 16.🔺 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
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
19. 19.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 7 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
20. 20.🔺 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
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.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a bicycle frame (d) a plank over a drain
23. 23.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a fort gateway (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an electric pylon
24. 24.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a roof truss (c) a slab over a canal (d) an igloo
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
27. 27.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) floating (c) stretched (tension) (d) squeezed (compression)
28. 28.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) a fort gateway (c) an old stone bridge (d) a shelf on two brackets
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
30. 30.🔺 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
31. 31.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
33. 33.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
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.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a round palace roof (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an igloo
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
38. 38.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (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.🔺 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?

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