Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 484 · 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.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
5. 5.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
8. 8.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a roof truss (c) a plank over a drain (d) a crane arm
9. 9.🔺 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
10. 10.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a plank over a drain (b) an old stone bridge (c) a roof truss (d) a planetarium roof
11. 11.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) square
12. 12.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
15. 15.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) take off a side (c) add a diagonal brace (d) make it bigger
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
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.🔺 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?
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a crane arm (c) an igloo (d) an old stone bridge
21. 21.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) an igloo (c) a roof truss (d) an old stone bridge
22. 22.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔺 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
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
28. 28.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it works in compression (c) it bends easily (d) it is very light
29. 29.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a round palace roof (d) a roof truss
32. 32.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
33. 33.🔺 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?
34. 34.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a round palace roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a roof truss
35. 35.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a round palace roof (c) a lintel over a door (d) a fort gateway
38. 38.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 2 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False

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