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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 527 · 40 questions
TalentJR

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.

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  1. 1.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  2. 2.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) triangle (c) square (d) hexagon
  3. 3.🔺 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?
  4. 4.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🔺 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?
  7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  9. 9.🔺 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
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  11. 11.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a roof truss (c) an electric pylon (d) a planetarium roof
  12. 12.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) an igloo (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an old stone bridge
  13. 13.True or false: an electric pylon uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🔺 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?
  15. 15.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a crane arm (c) a plank over a drain (d) a curved stone doorway
  16. 16.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.🔺 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
  18. 18.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a bicycle frame (c) a plank over a drain (d) a planetarium roof
  19. 19.🔺 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?
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  21. 21.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.🔺 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?
  25. 25.🔺 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?
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) an igloo (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a bicycle frame
  28. 28.🔺 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?
  29. 29.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  31. 31.🔺 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
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  33. 33.🔺 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?
  34. 34.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
  35. 35.🔺 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?
  36. 36.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) an electric pylon (c) a round palace roof (d) a crane arm
  37. 37.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) make it bigger (c) paint it (d) add a diagonal brace
  38. 38.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch

Answer key

  1. dome
  2. triangle
  3. 3
  4. False
  5. True
  6. 13
  7. triangle
  8. triangle
  9. it works in compression
  10. arch
  11. a curved stone doorway
  12. a shelf on two brackets
  13. False
  14. 31
  15. a crane arm
  16. True
  17. rigid
  18. a plank over a drain
  19. 29
  20. beam
  21. True
  22. beam
  23. 7
  24. 3
  25. 17
  26. 2
  27. an igloo
  28. 4
  29. False
  30. beam
  31. wobbly
  32. beam
  33. 1
  34. wobbly
  35. 7
  36. a fort gateway
  37. add a diagonal brace
  38. True
  39. True
  40. triangle

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