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

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 453 · 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.🔺 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?
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.🔺 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?
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  5. 5.🔺 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
  6. 6.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🔺 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?
  8. 8.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  10. 10.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) squeezed (compression) (c) stretched (tension) (d) not affected
  11. 11.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  14. 14.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🔺 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
  16. 16.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a planetarium roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a truss bridge side
  18. 18.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) square
  19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a truss bridge side (d) an old stone bridge
  21. 21.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  25. 25.🔺 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?
  26. 26.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a bicycle frame (c) a plank over a drain (d) a round palace roof
  27. 27.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🔺 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?
  29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  30. 30.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) a bicycle frame (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a fort gateway
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
  34. 34.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) add a diagonal brace (c) take off a side (d) make it bigger
  35. 35.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 13 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 strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  38. 38.🔺 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
  39. 39.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it is hollow (c) it bends easily (d) it works in compression
  40. 40.🔺 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?

Answer key

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

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