Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 596 · 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.🔺 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
2. 2.🔺 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?
3. 3.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a round palace roof (b) a plank over a drain (c) a slab over a canal (d) a bicycle frame
4. 4.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a shelf on two brackets (b) a slab over a canal (c) a fort gateway (d) a crane arm
5. 5.🔺 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?
6. 6.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) square (b) hexagon (c) rectangle (d) triangle
7. 7.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔺 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
9. 9.🔺 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?
10. 10.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a planetarium roof (b) an electric pylon (c) a lintel over a door (d) a bicycle frame
11. 11.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) not affected (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) stretched (tension)
12. 12.True or false: a round palace roof uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔺 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
14. 14.🔺 Which strong shape does an electric pylon use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
15. 15.Which of these uses triangles? (a) an electric pylon (b) a slab over a canal (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) an old stone bridge
16. 16.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses a dome. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔺 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?
18. 18.🔺 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
19. 19.🔺 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?
20. 20.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
21. 21.🔺 Which strong shape does a curved stone doorway use? (a) beam (b) triangle (c) dome (d) arch
22. 22.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 12 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
23. 23.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
24. 24.Which of these uses an arch? (a) an old stone bridge (b) a roof truss (c) a bicycle frame (d) an electric pylon
25. 25.🔺 Which strong shape does an igloo use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) arch (d) beam
26. 26.🔺 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) rigid (b) wobbly
27. 27.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) beam (c) triangle (d) arch
28. 28.True or false: a plank over a drain uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🔺 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?
30. 30.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a planetarium roof (b) a curved stone doorway (c) a crane arm (d) a lintel over a door
31. 31.True or false: a bicycle frame uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔺 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?
33. 33.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) arch (b) dome (c) triangle (d) beam
34. 34.🔺 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?
35. 35.Which of these uses a beam? (a) an igloo (b) a bicycle frame (c) a shelf on two brackets (d) a crane arm
36. 36.Which of these uses a beam? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a roof truss (c) a crane arm (d) an igloo
37. 37.True or false: an electric pylon uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔺 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
39. 39.True or false: a crane arm uses triangles. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.True or false: a shelf on two brackets uses an arch. (a) True (b) False

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