← Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams lesson New set →

Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 595 · 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.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
  2. 2.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  3. 3.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
  4. 4.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
  5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) dome (d) triangle
  6. 6.🔺 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
  7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) beam (d) triangle
  8. 8.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a shelf on two brackets (c) a crane arm (d) an electric pylon
  9. 9.🔺 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?
  10. 10.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) dome (d) beam
  11. 11.🔺 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?
  12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a planetarium roof (c) an old stone bridge (d) an electric pylon
  13. 13.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a truss bridge side (c) a slab over a canal (d) an electric pylon
  14. 14.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🔺 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?
  16. 16.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) hexagon (b) rectangle (c) square (d) triangle
  17. 17.🔺 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?
  18. 18.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
  19. 19.🔺 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?
  20. 20.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a round palace roof (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a lintel over a door
  21. 21.🔺 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?
  22. 22.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a curved stone doorway (b) a lintel over a door (c) a roof truss (d) a plank over a drain
  25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) arch (d) dome
  26. 26.🔺 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?
  27. 27.🔺 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?
  28. 28.True or false: a roof truss uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.🔺 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) wobbly (b) rigid
  30. 30.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a plank over a drain (b) a bicycle frame (c) a curved stone doorway (d) a planetarium roof
  31. 31.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔺 Which strong shape does a crane arm use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) arch (d) beam
  33. 33.🔺 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?
  34. 34.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an igloo (b) a lintel over a door (c) a fort gateway (d) a crane arm
  36. 36.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) floating (b) squeezed (compression) (c) not affected (d) stretched (tension)
  37. 37.🔺 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?
  38. 38.True or false: a fort gateway uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.True or false: a plank over a drain uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a bicycle frame (b) an igloo (c) a crane arm (d) an electric pylon

Answer key

  1. 31
  2. triangle
  3. triangle
  4. arch
  5. dome
  6. it works in compression
  7. triangle
  8. a shelf on two brackets
  9. 8
  10. dome
  11. 6
  12. an electric pylon
  13. a curved stone doorway
  14. True
  15. 3
  16. triangle
  17. 23
  18. beam
  19. 11
  20. a fort gateway
  21. 1
  22. False
  23. False
  24. a roof truss
  25. beam
  26. 17
  27. 2
  28. True
  29. rigid
  30. a plank over a drain
  31. False
  32. triangle
  33. 15
  34. True
  35. a crane arm
  36. squeezed (compression)
  37. 3
  38. True
  39. False
  40. an igloo

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