Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 584 · 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.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an electric pylon (b) a lintel over a door (c) a fort gateway (d) a bicycle frame
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.🔺 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
4. 4.🔺 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?
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.🔺 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?
7. 7.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) triangle (c) square (d) rectangle
8. 8.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.🔺 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?
11. 11.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a truss bridge side (b) a round palace roof (c) a plank over a drain (d) a curved stone doorway
12. 12.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
14. 14.🔺 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?
15. 15.🔺 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
16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
17. 17.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
19. 19.🔺 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
20. 20.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a bicycle frame (c) a plank over a drain (d) a slab over a canal
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a plank over a drain use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
23. 23.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a roof truss (d) an electric pylon
24. 24.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a round palace roof (c) an electric pylon (d) a slab over a canal
25. 25.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it bends easily (b) it is very light (c) it works in compression (d) it is hollow
26. 26.True or false: an old stone bridge uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔺 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?
28. 28.🔺 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?
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
31. 31.🔺 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?
32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
33. 33.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) add a diagonal brace (c) paint it (d) make it bigger
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.True or false: a bicycle frame uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
37. 37.True or false: a lintel over a door uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
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.🔺 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

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