Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 49 · 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 an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
3. 3.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) triangle (c) rectangle (d) hexagon
4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an electric pylon (c) a slab over a canal (d) a roof truss
5. 5.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.🔺 A flat frame has 4 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
8. 8.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
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.🔺 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?
11. 11.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a curved stone doorway (c) an igloo (d) a plank over a drain
12. 12.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) an electric pylon (c) an old stone bridge (d) a shelf on two brackets
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 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?
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
22. 22.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is hollow (c) it works in compression (d) it is very light
24. 24.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
25. 25.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
28. 28.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a round palace roof (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
29. 29.🔺 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
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a planetarium roof (c) a lintel over a door (d) an electric pylon
32. 32.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an electric pylon (b) an igloo (c) a round palace roof (d) a fort gateway
33. 33.🔺 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?
34. 34.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) add a diagonal brace (c) make it bigger (d) paint it
36. 36.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔺 A flat frame has 7 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
38. 38.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 8 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 frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
40. 40.🔺 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?

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