← Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams lesson New set →

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 539 · 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 a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  2. 2.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a planetarium roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a roof truss
  5. 5.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) an old stone bridge (c) a fort gateway (d) a crane arm
  6. 6.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) square
  7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  9. 9.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔺 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
  14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  15. 15.🔺 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
  16. 16.🔺 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
  17. 17.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) an old stone bridge (c) a roof truss (d) a lintel over a door
  19. 19.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is very light (c) it is hollow (d) it works in compression
  20. 20.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 11 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  26. 26.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  28. 28.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a bicycle frame (c) a plank over a drain (d) a slab over a canal
  29. 29.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an electric pylon (c) an igloo (d) a plank over a drain
  30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  31. 31.🔺 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?
  32. 32.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.True or false: a fort gateway uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a truss bridge side (c) a roof truss (d) a fort gateway
  37. 37.🔺 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?
  38. 38.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) a crane arm (c) a plank over a drain (d) a round palace roof
  39. 39.🔺 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
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome

Answer key

  1. dome
  2. True
  3. False
  4. a planetarium roof
  5. a crane arm
  6. triangle
  7. triangle
  8. triangle
  9. False
  10. 9
  11. 3
  12. False
  13. wobbly
  14. triangle
  15. wobbly
  16. rigid
  17. True
  18. a lintel over a door
  19. it works in compression
  20. False
  21. False
  22. 23
  23. 2
  24. False
  25. dome
  26. False
  27. arch
  28. a curved stone doorway
  29. an igloo
  30. arch
  31. 25
  32. False
  33. True
  34. 17
  35. False
  36. a fort gateway
  37. 11
  38. a round palace roof
  39. rigid
  40. triangle

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