Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 46 · 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 planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
4. 4.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it is hollow (c) it works in compression (d) it bends easily
5. 5.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a roof truss (c) a slab over a canal (d) a bicycle frame
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) add a diagonal brace (c) make it bigger (d) take off a side
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
9. 9.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
10. 10.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) triangle
12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a planetarium roof (c) an electric pylon (d) a slab over a canal
13. 13.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a truss bridge side (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a planetarium roof
14. 14.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔺 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
16. 16.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an igloo (b) a fort gateway (c) a slab over a canal (d) a crane arm
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
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.🔺 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?
21. 21.🔺 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?
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 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 triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a truss bridge side (d) a planetarium roof
26. 26.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an igloo (c) an electric pylon (d) a roof truss
27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
29. 29.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
33. 33.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) a plank over a drain (c) a truss bridge side (d) a fort gateway
34. 34.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🔺 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
36. 36.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an electric pylon (b) a roof truss (c) a fort gateway (d) a round palace roof
37. 37.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a roof truss (b) a truss bridge side (c) a bicycle frame (d) a fort gateway
38. 38.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) True (b) False

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