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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 575 · 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: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🔺 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?
  4. 4.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.🔺 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?
  6. 6.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 11 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  8. 8.🔺 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
  9. 9.True or false: a fort gateway uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 7 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
  14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  15. 15.🔺 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?
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  17. 17.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a roof truss (c) an old stone bridge (d) a round palace roof
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  19. 19.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) add a diagonal brace (c) take off a side (d) paint it
  20. 20.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) a plank over a drain (c) a planetarium roof (d) a truss bridge side
  21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) rectangle (c) square (d) hexagon
  24. 24.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a lintel over a door (c) a bicycle frame (d) a round palace roof
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  26. 26.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a round palace roof (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a roof truss
  27. 27.🔺 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?
  28. 28.🔺 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?
  29. 29.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🔺 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?
  31. 31.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a round palace roof (c) a plank over a drain (d) a truss bridge side
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  33. 33.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) squeezed (compression) (b) stretched (tension) (c) not affected (d) floating
  34. 34.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  36. 36.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a crane arm (b) a roof truss (c) a fort gateway (d) a plank over a drain
  37. 37.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  38. 38.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is hollow (c) it is very light (d) it bends easily
  39. 39.True or false: a bicycle frame uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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