Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 461 · 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.🔺 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?
3. 3.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
7. 7.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a round palace roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a crane arm
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
10. 10.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) paint it (c) add a diagonal brace (d) make it bigger
11. 11.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
17. 17.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) square (c) rectangle (d) triangle
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
19. 19.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
21. 21.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it works in compression (c) it is hollow (d) it is very light
23. 23.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) a slab over a canal (c) a fort gateway (d) an old stone bridge
26. 26.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) an electric pylon (d) a planetarium roof
27. 27.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 9 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
28. 28.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a truss bridge side (c) a fort gateway (d) an igloo
29. 29.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.True or false: a fort gateway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a crane arm (d) a curved stone doorway
33. 33.🔺 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
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a fort gateway (c) a truss bridge side (d) a slab over a canal
36. 36.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔺 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?
38. 38.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a fort gateway (c) a crane arm (d) a round palace roof
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch

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