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

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 565 · 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 shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) triangle (c) rectangle (d) hexagon
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.🔺 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?
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  5. 5.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a crane arm (c) a slab over a canal (d) an igloo
  6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  8. 8.🔺 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?
  9. 9.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a fort gateway (c) a lintel over a door (d) a shelf on two brackets
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  11. 11.True or false: an electric pylon uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  13. 13.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 10 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  16. 16.🔺 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?
  17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  18. 18.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) paint it (b) make it bigger (c) add a diagonal brace (d) take off a side
  19. 19.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔺 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
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) dome (c) arch (d) triangle
  23. 23.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) a truss bridge side (d) a planetarium roof
  24. 24.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a fort gateway (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a bicycle frame (d) a crane arm
  25. 25.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.🔺 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?
  28. 28.🔺 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?
  29. 29.🔺 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?
  30. 30.🔺 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
  31. 31.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) not affected (c) floating (d) stretched (tension)
  32. 32.🔺 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?
  33. 33.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an electric pylon (b) a lintel over a door (c) an old stone bridge (d) an igloo
  34. 34.Which of these uses a dome? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a crane arm (c) a planetarium roof (d) a roof truss
  35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
  36. 36.🔺 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
  37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  38. 38.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🔺 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?
  40. 40.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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