Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 583 · 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.True or false: an igloo uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.True or false: a lintel over a door uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a slab over a canal (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a bicycle frame
5. 5.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) square (c) triangle (d) rectangle
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a roof truss (c) an igloo (d) a shelf on two brackets
8. 8.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
9. 9.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) not affected (c) stretched (tension) (d) squeezed (compression)
10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
11. 11.🔺 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
12. 12.🔺 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?
13. 13.True or false: a fort gateway uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
14. 14.🔺 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
15. 15.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a plank over a drain (d) an electric pylon
16. 16.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a slab over a canal (c) an electric pylon (d) a truss bridge side
17. 17.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
19. 19.True or false: a curved stone doorway uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
21. 21.🔺 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?
22. 22.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an electric pylon (c) a round palace roof (d) a bicycle frame
23. 23.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a truss bridge side (c) a lintel over a door (d) a crane arm
24. 24.🔺 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?
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
26. 26.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.🔺 A flat frame has 9 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
34. 34.🔺 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
35. 35.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
37. 37.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
39. 39.🔺 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?
40. 40.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it is very light (c) it bends easily (d) it works in compression

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