Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 472 · 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 of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) a slab over a canal (c) a crane arm (d) a round palace roof
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.🔺 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?
4. 4.🔺 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?
5. 5.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
7. 7.🔺 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?
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
9. 9.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is very light (c) it is hollow (d) it bends easily
10. 10.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
15. 15.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) triangle (c) hexagon (d) rectangle
16. 16.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) stretched (tension)
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
20. 20.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔺 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?
22. 22.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
25. 25.🔺 A flat frame has 10 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
26. 26.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a roof truss (c) a slab over a canal (d) a round palace roof
27. 27.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a round palace roof (b) a roof truss (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an electric pylon
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 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
31. 31.🔺 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
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a roof truss (c) a fort gateway (d) an electric pylon
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 10 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
37. 37.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a truss bridge side (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a lintel over a door
38. 38.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a fort gateway (d) a planetarium roof
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
40. 40.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an electric pylon (c) a truss bridge side (d) a roof truss

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