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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 53 · 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) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) square (c) hexagon (d) rectangle
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  5. 5.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a crane arm (c) an old stone bridge (d) an electric pylon
  8. 8.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a bicycle frame (c) a plank over a drain (d) a fort gateway
  9. 9.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a crane arm (c) a bicycle frame (d) a curved stone doorway
  11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  14. 14.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a lintel over a door (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an electric pylon
  16. 16.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a crane arm (c) an old stone bridge (d) a planetarium roof
  17. 17.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a round palace roof (c) a fort gateway (d) a curved stone doorway
  20. 20.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) paint it (c) add a diagonal brace (d) take off a side
  22. 22.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  23. 23.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.True or false: a planetarium roof uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🔺 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?
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  28. 28.🔺 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?
  29. 29.🔺 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
  30. 30.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a bicycle frame (c) a slab over a canal (d) an igloo
  31. 31.🔺 A flat frame has 11 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
  32. 32.🔺 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?
  33. 33.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a plank over a drain (c) an igloo (d) a curved stone doorway
  34. 34.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) floating (c) not affected (d) stretched (tension)
  35. 35.🔺 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
  36. 36.🔺 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?
  37. 37.🔺 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?
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  39. 39.🔺 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?
  40. 40.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

  1. dome
  2. 2
  3. triangle
  4. arch
  5. False
  6. False
  7. an old stone bridge
  8. a fort gateway
  9. False
  10. a curved stone doorway
  11. triangle
  12. 29
  13. beam
  14. True
  15. an electric pylon
  16. a planetarium roof
  17. False
  18. True
  19. a round palace roof
  20. False
  21. add a diagonal brace
  22. rigid
  23. True
  24. False
  25. 1
  26. 19
  27. beam
  28. 5
  29. rigid
  30. an igloo
  31. 8
  32. 9
  33. a plank over a drain
  34. squeezed (compression)
  35. wobbly
  36. 5
  37. 6
  38. beam
  39. 3
  40. True

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