Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 457 · 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) True (b) False
2. 2.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) not affected (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
7. 7.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a plank over a drain (d) an electric pylon
8. 8.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) square (d) hexagon
9. 9.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) an old stone bridge (d) an igloo
10. 10.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) make it bigger (c) add a diagonal brace (d) paint it
11. 11.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it is very light (c) it works in compression (d) it bends easily
12. 12.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an old stone bridge (c) a roof truss (d) a planetarium roof
13. 13.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a round palace roof (c) a truss bridge side (d) an igloo
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
21. 21.🔺 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?
22. 22.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a fort gateway (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a crane arm
23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
33. 33.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a bicycle frame (c) an electric pylon (d) a roof truss
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
36. 36.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an igloo (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a slab over a canal
39. 39.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an electric pylon (b) a bicycle frame (c) a planetarium roof (d) a shelf on two brackets
40. 40.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) True (b) False

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