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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 529 · 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.

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

Answer key

  1. triangle
  2. False
  3. True
  4. True
  5. a bicycle frame
  6. triangle
  7. 9
  8. False
  9. beam
  10. False
  11. False
  12. True
  13. a plank over a drain
  14. wobbly
  15. a shelf on two brackets
  16. triangle
  17. 9
  18. squeezed (compression)
  19. False
  20. 6
  21. True
  22. beam
  23. a fort gateway
  24. beam
  25. add a diagonal brace
  26. rigid
  27. 3
  28. rigid
  29. True
  30. dome
  31. a roof truss
  32. wobbly
  33. arch
  34. True
  35. arch
  36. triangle
  37. False
  38. 7
  39. a truss bridge side
  40. False

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