Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 52 · 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 shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
9. 9.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an electric pylon (b) a slab over a canal (c) a fort gateway (d) a lintel over a door
12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) a fort gateway (c) a lintel over a door (d) an old stone bridge
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
14. 14.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
17. 17.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it bends easily (c) it is very light (d) it is hollow
18. 18.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a crane arm (b) a plank over a drain (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a shelf on two brackets
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
21. 21.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a truss bridge side (c) an electric pylon (d) a lintel over a door
22. 22.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) add a diagonal brace (c) take off a side (d) make it bigger
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) a round palace roof (c) a roof truss (d) a slab over a canal
31. 31.🔺 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
32. 32.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a fort gateway (c) a lintel over a door (d) a shelf on two brackets
34. 34.True or false: a round palace roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a truss bridge side (c) an electric pylon (d) a shelf on two brackets
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
37. 37.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a truss bridge side (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an electric pylon
38. 38.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) square (c) rectangle (d) triangle
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.🔺 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?

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