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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 555 · 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 of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a plank over a drain (c) a fort gateway (d) a planetarium roof
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  3. 3.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🔺 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?
  5. 5.🔺 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
  6. 6.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) not affected
  7. 7.🔺 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?
  8. 8.True or false: an electric pylon uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) triangle (c) square (d) hexagon
  10. 10.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a round palace roof (b) a roof truss (c) an old stone bridge (d) an electric pylon
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  14. 14.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) add a diagonal brace (c) paint it (d) make it bigger
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
  16. 16.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) an old stone bridge (c) a plank over a drain (d) an electric pylon
  17. 17.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it is very light (c) it works in compression (d) it bends easily
  19. 19.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a crane arm (d) a round palace roof
  21. 21.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a slab over a canal (c) a planetarium roof (d) a roof truss
  24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  25. 25.🔺 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
  26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
  27. 27.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  29. 29.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a bicycle frame (c) a truss bridge side (d) a lintel over a door
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  32. 32.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔺 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
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  37. 37.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  38. 38.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  40. 40.True or false: a roof truss uses an arch. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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