Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 451 · 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.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔺 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
3. 3.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) floating (c) stretched (tension) (d) not affected
4. 4.🔺 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?
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a truss bridge side (d) an electric pylon
7. 7.🔺 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?
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a truss bridge side (c) a planetarium roof (d) a roof truss
10. 10.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) square (c) rectangle (d) hexagon
11. 11.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a roof truss
12. 12.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a roof truss (c) a slab over a canal (d) a fort gateway
15. 15.🔺 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
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
18. 18.🔺 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
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.🔺 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?
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
22. 22.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a crane arm (b) an old stone bridge (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a shelf on two brackets
23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
25. 25.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) an igloo (d) a roof truss
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
27. 27.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a lintel over a door (d) a bicycle frame
29. 29.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) an old stone bridge (c) an igloo (d) a roof truss
30. 30.🔺 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
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
36. 36.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔺 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
38. 38.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) an old stone bridge (c) an electric pylon (d) a curved stone doorway
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) True (b) False

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