Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 528 · 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.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
2. 2.🔺 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?
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.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
5. 5.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) make it bigger (c) take off a side (d) paint it
6. 6.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.True or false: a fort gateway uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) an electric pylon (c) a truss bridge side (d) a crane arm
10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
14. 14.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔺 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?
16. 16.🔺 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?
17. 17.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it works in compression (c) it is very light (d) it bends easily
18. 18.🔺 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
19. 19.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a roof truss (d) an igloo
21. 21.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) an electric pylon (c) a plank over a drain (d) an igloo
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
23. 23.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a crane arm (c) a fort gateway (d) a curved stone doorway
27. 27.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a bicycle frame (c) a crane arm (d) a curved stone doorway
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) square (d) triangle
31. 31.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a bicycle frame (c) an old stone bridge (d) an igloo
32. 32.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a truss bridge side (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a round palace roof
33. 33.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
34. 34.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a lintel over a door (c) a curved stone doorway (d) an old stone bridge
35. 35.🔺 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?
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
37. 37.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome

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