Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 45 · 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.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
2. 2.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a fort gateway (c) an igloo (d) an electric pylon
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
5. 5.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it works in compression
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a lintel over a door (c) a round palace roof (d) a crane arm
9. 9.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) stretched (tension) (c) not affected (d) floating
10. 10.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) triangle (c) hexagon (d) square
11. 11.🔺 A flat frame has 8 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.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a roof truss (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
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.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a roof truss (c) a truss bridge side (d) an old stone bridge
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔺 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
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
22. 22.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a fort gateway (d) a roof truss
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
25. 25.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) make it bigger (c) take off a side (d) add a diagonal brace
26. 26.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 3 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
27. 27.🔺 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
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
34. 34.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔺 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
36. 36.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) an igloo (d) a bicycle frame
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
39. 39.🔺 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
40. 40.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an electric pylon (d) a round palace roof

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