Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 522 · 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.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
4. 4.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a crane arm (c) a slab over a canal (d) a round palace roof
5. 5.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a roof truss (c) a lintel over a door (d) a fort gateway
6. 6.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an electric pylon (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a shelf on two brackets
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
8. 8.🔺 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?
9. 9.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an electric pylon (b) a plank over a drain (c) an igloo (d) a planetarium roof
10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 9 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
14. 14.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) square (c) triangle (d) hexagon
15. 15.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a bicycle frame (c) an igloo (d) a roof truss
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) paint it (c) make it bigger (d) take off a side
18. 18.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
19. 19.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it is hollow (c) it bends easily (d) it works in compression
20. 20.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 12 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
21. 21.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a roof truss (c) a round palace roof (d) a plank over a drain
22. 22.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
24. 24.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a roof truss (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a slab over a canal
25. 25.🔺 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?
26. 26.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.🔺 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
28. 28.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a round palace roof (c) a truss bridge side (d) an old stone bridge
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
31. 31.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a truss bridge side (c) a roof truss (d) a lintel over a door
33. 33.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a slab over a canal (c) a planetarium roof (d) a roof truss
34. 34.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a crane arm (d) a plank over a drain
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.🔺 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
38. 38.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
40. 40.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) True (b) False

Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids