Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 455 · 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 truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) squeezed (compression) (c) not affected (d) stretched (tension)
4. 4.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a truss bridge side (d) a lintel over a door
5. 5.True or false: a fort gateway uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) an igloo (c) a slab over a canal (d) an old stone bridge
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
8. 8.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an electric pylon (b) a slab over a canal (c) a roof truss (d) a fort gateway
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.🔺 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?
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
12. 12.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) make it bigger (c) take off a side (d) paint it
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.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is hollow (c) it is very light (d) it works in compression
15. 15.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) an electric pylon (c) a planetarium roof (d) an igloo
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a plank over a drain (c) an electric pylon (d) an old stone bridge
21. 21.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) triangle
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 12 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
25. 25.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a roof truss (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a planetarium roof
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.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.🔺 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
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
31. 31.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an igloo (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a roof truss
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
34. 34.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 3 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
35. 35.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) an old stone bridge (c) a planetarium roof (d) a shelf on two brackets
36. 36.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
37. 37.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a fort gateway (d) a planetarium roof
38. 38.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True

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