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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 582 · 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.🔺 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?
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  3. 3.🔺 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?
  4. 4.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  7. 7.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  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.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.True or false: a round palace roof uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🔺 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?
  13. 13.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a planetarium roof (d) a truss bridge side
  14. 14.🔺 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?
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  16. 16.True or false: a round palace roof uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  19. 19.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) square
  20. 20.🔺 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
  21. 21.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it is hollow (c) it bends easily (d) it is very light
  22. 22.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.🔺 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?
  24. 24.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) paint it (c) make it bigger (d) take off a side
  26. 26.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  27. 27.🔺 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?
  28. 28.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
  29. 29.🔺 A frame shaped like a square is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
  30. 30.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  32. 32.🔺 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?
  33. 33.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: a lintel over a door uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) stretched (tension) (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
  36. 36.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a bicycle frame (c) a truss bridge side (d) a plank over a drain
  37. 37.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  39. 39.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a lintel over a door (c) a truss bridge side (d) a crane arm
  40. 40.🔺 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?

Answer key

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

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