Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 51 · 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 bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
7. 7.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an electric pylon (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a shelf on two brackets
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
9. 9.True or false: a roof truss uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔺 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
11. 11.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
15. 15.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
16. 16.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a round palace roof (d) an old stone bridge
17. 17.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a crane arm (d) a slab over a canal
18. 18.🔺 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?
19. 19.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a roof truss (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a planetarium roof
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
21. 21.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 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
25. 25.True or false: a lintel over a door uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an igloo (c) an electric pylon (d) an old stone bridge
27. 27.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a planetarium roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) a fort gateway
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a bicycle frame (c) a slab over a canal (d) an electric pylon
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a plank over a drain (c) an electric pylon (d) a round palace roof
33. 33.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) an old stone bridge (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a crane arm
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a lintel over a door (c) a crane arm (d) a curved stone doorway
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
37. 37.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
39. 39.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a roof truss (c) a truss bridge side (d) a slab over a canal
40. 40.🔺 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?

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