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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 561 · 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.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 3 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  4. 4.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  6. 6.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🔺 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?
  8. 8.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a roof truss (c) a fort gateway (d) an old stone bridge
  9. 9.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🔺 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
  12. 12.True or false: an igloo uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) stretched (tension) (d) floating
  14. 14.🔺 A flat frame has 7 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
  15. 15.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) triangle (c) square (d) hexagon
  16. 16.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is hollow (c) it is very light (d) it works in compression
  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 of these uses a dome? (a) an igloo (b) an electric pylon (c) a truss bridge side (d) a slab over a canal
  19. 19.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔺 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?
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  27. 27.🔺 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?
  28. 28.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a round palace roof (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a roof truss
  29. 29.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔺 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?
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) dome (d) beam
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  33. 33.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🔺 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
  35. 35.True or false: an old stone bridge uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) triangle (d) arch
  38. 38.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a lintel over a door (c) a planetarium roof (d) a bicycle frame
  39. 39.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) add a diagonal brace (c) make it bigger (d) paint it
  40. 40.🔺 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?

Answer key

  1. True
  2. 9
  3. 7
  4. False
  5. triangle
  6. True
  7. 1
  8. a roof truss
  9. True
  10. False
  11. wobbly
  12. False
  13. squeezed (compression)
  14. 4
  15. triangle
  16. it works in compression
  17. 7
  18. an igloo
  19. True
  20. 13
  21. dome
  22. 8
  23. 5
  24. True
  25. beam
  26. arch
  27. 27
  28. a shelf on two brackets
  29. False
  30. 29
  31. arch
  32. triangle
  33. False
  34. wobbly
  35. False
  36. False
  37. triangle
  38. a fort gateway
  39. add a diagonal brace
  40. 5

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