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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 570 · 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 strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  2. 2.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🔺 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
  4. 4.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) a crane arm (c) a round palace roof (d) an old stone bridge
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
  6. 6.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  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.🔺 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
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.🔺 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?
  11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 A flat frame has 6 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
  14. 14.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) square (c) hexagon (d) rectangle
  15. 15.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
  17. 17.🔺 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?
  18. 18.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a round palace roof (c) a truss bridge side (d) an igloo
  19. 19.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  23. 23.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it is hollow (c) it bends easily (d) it works in compression
  24. 24.🔺 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?
  25. 25.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an igloo (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an old stone bridge
  26. 26.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) stretched (tension)
  27. 27.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a roof truss (b) a fort gateway (c) a lintel over a door (d) a shelf on two brackets
  29. 29.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔺 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
  31. 31.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) an igloo (c) a bicycle frame (d) a fort gateway
  33. 33.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a plank over a drain (b) an electric pylon (c) an old stone bridge (d) a planetarium roof
  34. 34.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a crane arm (c) a planetarium roof (d) a fort gateway
  35. 35.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🔺 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?
  38. 38.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a roof truss (b) an old stone bridge (c) a slab over a canal (d) a lintel over a door
  39. 39.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a planetarium roof (c) a truss bridge side (d) a crane arm
  40. 40.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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