Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 541 · 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.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
2. 2.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a truss bridge side (d) an old stone bridge
3. 3.🔺 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?
4. 4.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a lintel over a door (c) an old stone bridge (d) a round palace roof
5. 5.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) squeezed (compression) (d) floating
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
8. 8.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) square
9. 9.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it is very light
10. 10.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.🔺 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
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.🔺 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
14. 14.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a slab over a canal (d) an igloo
15. 15.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔺 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
23. 23.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
24. 24.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
25. 25.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
26. 26.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
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 of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a plank over a drain (c) a roof truss (d) a crane arm
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
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 strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a slab over a canal (d) an electric pylon
36. 36.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 7 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
37. 37.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
39. 39.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome

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