Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 483 · 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 bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) stretched (tension) (c) not affected (d) squeezed (compression)
4. 4.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
6. 6.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is very light (c) it is hollow (d) it works in compression
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
10. 10.🔺 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
11. 11.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a slab over a canal (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an electric pylon
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
15. 15.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a truss bridge side (c) a bicycle frame (d) a lintel over a door
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
17. 17.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a fort gateway (c) an old stone bridge (d) a curved stone doorway
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a plank over a drain (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a crane arm
21. 21.🔺 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
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
23. 23.🔺 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
24. 24.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
26. 26.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a round palace roof (c) an electric pylon (d) a slab over a canal
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an igloo (c) a slab over a canal (d) an old stone bridge
29. 29.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) an old stone bridge (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an electric pylon
30. 30.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) triangle (c) rectangle (d) hexagon
40. 40.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a slab over a canal (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a round palace roof

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