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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 59 · 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.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
  3. 3.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) not affected (c) floating (d) squeezed (compression)
  4. 4.🔺 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?
  5. 5.🔺 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?
  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.🔺 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?
  8. 8.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) triangle (b) square (c) hexagon (d) rectangle
  9. 9.🔺 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
  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.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔺 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?
  14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  15. 15.🔺 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?
  16. 16.True or false: a slab over a canal uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  19. 19.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a roof truss (b) an electric pylon (c) an igloo (d) a curved stone doorway
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  21. 21.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it works in compression (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it is very light
  23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  24. 24.True or false: a truss bridge side uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a fort gateway (c) a crane arm (d) a planetarium roof
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.🔺 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
  28. 28.True or false: an igloo uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) add a diagonal brace (b) make it bigger (c) paint it (d) take off a side
  31. 31.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a truss bridge side use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  34. 34.🔺 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?
  35. 35.🔺 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?
  36. 36.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🔺 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?
  39. 39.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a crane arm (c) a bicycle frame (d) a lintel over a door
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch

Answer key

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

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