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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 545 · 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.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is very light (c) it bends easily (d) it is hollow
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  6. 6.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) add a diagonal brace (c) take off a side (d) paint it
  7. 7.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a roof truss (c) an old stone bridge (d) a bicycle frame
  8. 8.🔺 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?
  9. 9.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) triangle (d) hexagon
  12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  13. 13.🔺 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
  14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  16. 16.🔺 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
  17. 17.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 13 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  18. 18.🔺 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?
  19. 19.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
  22. 22.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a slab over a canal (c) an electric pylon (d) a fort gateway
  23. 23.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  24. 24.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a plank over a drain (b) an electric pylon (c) a bicycle frame (d) a planetarium roof
  26. 26.🔺 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
  27. 27.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  29. 29.True or false: an electric pylon uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔺 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?
  31. 31.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a truss bridge side (c) a slab over a canal (d) a lintel over a door
  33. 33.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a bicycle frame (c) a roof truss (d) a fort gateway
  35. 35.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an electric pylon (b) a bicycle frame (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a slab over a canal
  36. 36.🔺 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?
  37. 37.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a crane arm (b) a bicycle frame (c) a slab over a canal (d) an igloo
  38. 38.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 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 an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a plank over a drain (c) a slab over a canal (d) a truss bridge side
  40. 40.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating

Answer key

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

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