Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 509 · 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 planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) square
5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.🔺 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?
8. 8.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a bicycle frame (c) a slab over a canal (d) a truss bridge side
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
10. 10.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a slab over a canal (c) a planetarium roof (d) a lintel over a door
11. 11.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
13. 13.🔺 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?
14. 14.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a fort gateway (c) an electric pylon (d) a curved stone doorway
15. 15.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔺 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
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
18. 18.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a roof truss (b) an electric pylon (c) an old stone bridge (d) a bicycle frame
20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) an old stone bridge (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a roof truss
21. 21.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) paint it (c) make it bigger (d) add a diagonal brace
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) stretched (tension)
26. 26.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an igloo (b) an electric pylon (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
29. 29.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
31. 31.🔺 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
32. 32.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 10 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
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 beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a round palace roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a plank over a drain
35. 35.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a bicycle frame (c) a lintel over a door (d) a crane arm
36. 36.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
38. 38.🔺 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?
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
40. 40.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a crane arm (b) a planetarium roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a fort gateway

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