Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 512 · 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.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it bends easily (c) it is very light (d) it works in compression
2. 2.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
5. 5.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a round palace roof
7. 7.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an igloo (c) a truss bridge side (d) a fort gateway
9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
11. 11.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a round palace roof (c) a lintel over a door (d) a crane arm
13. 13.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a bicycle frame (c) a roof truss (d) an old stone bridge
14. 14.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a slab over a canal (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a planetarium roof
19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
21. 21.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an igloo (c) a truss bridge side (d) a plank over a drain
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
24. 24.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.🔺 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?
27. 27.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) square (c) rectangle (d) triangle
28. 28.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
31. 31.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an old stone bridge (c) a fort gateway (d) a planetarium roof
32. 32.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) an igloo (c) a crane arm (d) a roof truss
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
34. 34.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a plank over a drain (c) an igloo (d) a crane arm
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) an igloo (c) a planetarium roof (d) a shelf on two brackets
37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
38. 38.True or false: an old stone bridge uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.🔺 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?

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