Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 572 · 40 questions

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.

1. 1.🔺 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?
2. 2.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) square
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) floating (c) stretched (tension) (d) squeezed (compression)
7. 7.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a fort gateway (c) an old stone bridge (d) a plank over a drain
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.🔺 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?
11. 11.🔺 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?
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
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.🔺 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
16. 16.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) dome (d) arch
18. 18.🔺 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
19. 19.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an electric pylon (b) a crane arm (c) a truss bridge side (d) a curved stone doorway
20. 20.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a bicycle frame (c) a round palace roof (d) a planetarium roof
22. 22.🔺 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?
23. 23.🔺 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?
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
25. 25.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it is hollow (c) it works in compression (d) it bends easily
26. 26.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
27. 27.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) an igloo (d) a fort gateway
28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
29. 29.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
32. 32.🔺 A frame shaped like a hexagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 3 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
33. 33.True or false: a planetarium roof uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a bicycle frame (d) an igloo
35. 35.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a truss bridge side (d) a shelf on two brackets
36. 36.🔺 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?
37. 37.True or false: a plank over a drain uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔺 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
39. 39.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle

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