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Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 593 · 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 crane arm uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔺 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?
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  4. 4.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) take off a side (b) paint it (c) add a diagonal brace (d) make it bigger
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  6. 6.🔺 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?
  7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
  8. 8.True or false: an electric pylon uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a crane arm (d) a planetarium roof
  10. 10.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 9 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  12. 12.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a truss bridge side (c) a roof truss (d) a curved stone doorway
  13. 13.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) stretched (tension) (c) squeezed (compression) (d) not affected
  14. 14.🔺 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
  15. 15.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) arch (d) triangle
  16. 16.🔺 Which strong shape does a planetarium roof use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) dome (d) triangle
  17. 17.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a round palace roof (b) a slab over a canal (c) a crane arm (d) a truss bridge side
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) beam (d) triangle
  19. 19.🔺 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?
  20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  21. 21.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a plank over a drain (c) a truss bridge side (d) a planetarium roof
  22. 22.🔺 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?
  23. 23.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) rectangle (c) hexagon (d) triangle
  24. 24.🔺 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?
  25. 25.True or false: a roof truss uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) arch (c) triangle (d) dome
  28. 28.🔺 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?
  29. 29.True or false: a planetarium roof uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  31. 31.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an electric pylon (b) a crane arm (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a lintel over a door
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a fort gateway use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
  33. 33.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a roof truss (d) an old stone bridge
  34. 34.🔺 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
  35. 35.True or false: an old stone bridge uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔺 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
  37. 37.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a roof truss (b) a truss bridge side (c) a crane arm (d) a shelf on two brackets
  38. 38.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is very light (b) it bends easily (c) it is hollow (d) it works in compression
  40. 40.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle

Answer key

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

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