Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 50 · 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) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
2. 2.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) square (c) rectangle (d) hexagon
3. 3.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a fort gateway (c) a truss bridge side (d) a shelf on two brackets
4. 4.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 3 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a planetarium roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a round palace roof (d) a plank over a drain
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
12. 12.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.🔺 A flat frame has 10 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 triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a round palace roof (c) a bicycle frame (d) a plank over a drain
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
18. 18.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) take off a side (c) paint it (d) add a diagonal brace
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
20. 20.🔺 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?
21. 21.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an old stone bridge (c) an electric pylon (d) a roof truss
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) a roof truss (d) a bicycle frame
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
25. 25.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) a planetarium roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a crane arm
26. 26.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a roof truss (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a truss bridge side
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 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
29. 29.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an igloo (c) a fort gateway (d) an electric pylon
30. 30.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a lintel over a door (c) a truss bridge side (d) an igloo
31. 31.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔺 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?
34. 34.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it bends easily (c) it works in compression (d) it is hollow
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
37. 37.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a crane arm (b) a lintel over a door (c) a truss bridge side (d) an old stone bridge
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔺 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

Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids