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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 495 · 40 questions
TalentJR

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.

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

Answer key

  1. it works in compression
  2. triangle
  3. arch
  4. squeezed (compression)
  5. 8
  6. 3
  7. dome
  8. add a diagonal brace
  9. 5
  10. beam
  11. 31
  12. True
  13. 25
  14. 2
  15. triangle
  16. an electric pylon
  17. 6
  18. rigid
  19. triangle
  20. arch
  21. triangle
  22. 3
  23. a crane arm
  24. False
  25. True
  26. a round palace roof
  27. True
  28. triangle
  29. an old stone bridge
  30. a shelf on two brackets
  31. wobbly
  32. triangle
  33. False
  34. True
  35. beam
  36. a bicycle frame
  37. True
  38. 7
  39. True
  40. dome

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