Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 503 · 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 a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
2. 2.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a fort gateway (c) a plank over a drain (d) an electric pylon
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) triangle
7. 7.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) an electric pylon (c) an igloo (d) a curved stone doorway
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) wobbly (b) rigid
10. 10.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a truss bridge side (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a round palace roof
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) an electric pylon (c) a bicycle frame (d) a planetarium roof
13. 13.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a fort gateway (c) a slab over a canal (d) a roof truss
14. 14.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
15. 15.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) a crane arm (d) a curved stone doorway
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
17. 17.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 7 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 of these uses a beam? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an electric pylon (c) a roof truss (d) a crane arm
20. 20.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) a round palace roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a curved stone doorway
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) an electric pylon (c) a truss bridge side (d) an igloo
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a round palace roof (d) a bicycle frame
30. 30.🔺 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?
31. 31.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) take off a side (c) paint it (d) make it bigger
32. 32.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.🔺 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
36. 36.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: a crane arm uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 11 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 of these uses an arch? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a roof truss (d) a fort gateway
40. 40.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it is very light

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