Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 474 · 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 roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
2. 2.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) make it bigger (c) take off a side (d) add a diagonal brace
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a round palace roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a bicycle frame
5. 5.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an igloo (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an electric pylon
6. 6.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a roof truss (c) a slab over a canal (d) a round palace roof
7. 7.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
9. 9.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) squeezed (compression) (c) not affected (d) floating
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
13. 13.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) square (d) hexagon
14. 14.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a round palace roof (c) a fort gateway (d) a curved stone doorway
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a roof truss (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an old stone bridge
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
19. 19.🔺 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
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
23. 23.🔺 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
24. 24.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it bends easily (c) it is very light (d) it works in compression
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
27. 27.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) an igloo (c) a slab over a canal (d) a crane arm
28. 28.🔺 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
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a fort gateway (c) an igloo (d) a truss bridge side
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 an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) an electric pylon (d) a roof truss
36. 36.🔺 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
37. 37.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a lintel over a door (c) a round palace roof (d) a slab over a canal
38. 38.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a lintel over a door (c) a roof truss (d) a curved stone doorway
39. 39.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a slab over a canal (c) a crane arm (d) a curved stone doorway
40. 40.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False

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